S.African anti-migrant march gathers near southern Africa summit

About 300 anti-migrant protesters marched to a regional summit in South Africa Monday, demanding the gathered leaders "fetch their people".

The heavily policed demonstration was called by one of the fringe anti-immigrant groups behind weeks of protests that led tens of thousands of foreign nationals to flee.

A helicopter and drones flew overhead as officers on horseback and motorbikes marshalled the relatively small group of marchers to the perimeter of the 16-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in the coastal city of Durban.

"We are here to tell you to come and fetch your people who are here in South Africa illegally," said march leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma.

Tens of thousands of foreign nationals fled South Africa as protests against illegal migrants intensified. By RAJESH JANTILAL (AFP)

She referenced Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, the three countries whose citizens made up the bulk of around 176,000 foreign nationals who left as protests intensified, according to an AFP tally.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said at a public lecture Friday on the sidelines of the SADC meeting that South Africa was "deeply concerned and ashamed that nationals from other countries have in recent months been subjected to discrimination and ill-treatment".

At least four migrants were killed in the violence, according to the South African police, though some foreign governments say the toll is higher.

The government's handling of the protests and violence has been criticised by other African nations, notably Ghana and Nigeria which are not within the SADC grouping.

The continent's wealthiest nation, South Africa has long been a draw for migrants but is battling an unemployment rate above 30 percent and massive inequality.

The country, which took over the rotating chairship of SADC at the summit, has called for an Africa-wide conference to address migration.