More Kenyans evacuated from South Africa as anti-migrant protests escalate

South African police say more than 900 people were arrested during Tuesday's demonstrations, which saw a number of protests turn violent.

Meanwhile, Kenya continues to evacuate its citizens, with 46 more expected to arrive later this evening, adding to the 86 already repatriated.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received 64 Kenyans evacuated from South Africa at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, followed by another group of 16 who arrived at around 10 p.m. The evacuations come as South Africa continues to experience widespread xenophobic protests.

The latest returnees included young children, vulnerable individuals and other Kenyans who opted to come back home, following an earlier batch of 26 Kenyans who arrived on Tuesday morning, amid growing security concerns.

According to the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, more than 200 Kenyans have expressed interest in returning home.

“In terms of travel documentation, anybody who didn’t have their passport or whose passport had expired and needed documentation, at the Kenya High Commission in Pretoria we have prepared what is called an emergency travel certificate to allow people to come back home,” said Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu.

South African authorities say 108 of the 120 demonstrations were peaceful, but police intervened in 12 that turned violent, with looting, public disorder and attacks on businesses reported.

Those arrested include undocumented migrants accused of immigration offences, as well as suspects linked to public violence, robbery and harbouring illegal immigrants. Security has since been beefed up in several hotspots, including Johannesburg's Hillbrow district.

The protests come amid months of growing anti-foreigner sentiment, which has forced thousands of migrants to flee their homes.

South Africa's anti-migrant protest leaders have vowed to intensify their campaign, announcing a rolling series of demonstrations targeting the country's major commercial hubs.