Botswana has not lower off electrical energy provide or closed borders amid anti-migrant motion in South Africa
IN SHORT: As anti-migrant demonstrations proceed to shake South Africa in Might 2026, claims about neighbouring Botswana taking motion are circulating on-line. However there isn’t a proof the nation has closed borders or lower off electrical energy provide to South Africa.
A number of Fb accounts have popularised the declare that Botswana’s authorities is taking “drastic measures towards South Africa” within the wake of escalating protest motion and threats towards migrants in South Africa.
Many posts pointed to a supposed tackle given by Botswana’s president:
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In a agency speech, Duma Boko strongly criticized the remedy of Botswana nationals, recalling his nation’s historic assist through the wrestle towards apartheid. “We helped you combat oppression, and at the moment our youngsters are being humiliated.”
The posts declare that Botswana has closed its borders with South Africa and demanded its residents return from the nation, but additionally that Botswana has determined to chop off electrical energy “to a number of South African provinces” in an “unprecedented transfer that dangers worsening the already extreme vitality disaster” in South Africa.
(Word: See extra variations of the submit on the finish of this report.)
However none of that is true. This is what we all know as of Might 2026.
Anti-foreigner teams organise demonstrations throughout South Africa
South Africa has a lengthy historical past of anti-migrant incidents. Xenowatch, a database of xenophobic discrimination incidents within the nation, reported 151 incidents and 16 deaths in 2025 alone.
In 2025 and 2026, anti-immigrant teams corresponding to March and March and Operation Dudula have staged varied demonstrations calling for extra authorities motion towards migrants, together with implementing immigration legal guidelines and deportations.
Different public motion towards suspected foreigners has included blocking entry to healthcare services, intimidating migrants and forcing store closures throughout protests. A Gauteng excessive courtroom interdict has beforehand barred Operation Dudula from persevering with a few of these actions.
Demonstrations flared up once more in April 2026, with protests held within the north of the nation, and South African and foreign-owned retailers reportedly closed over fears of looting. On 6 Might, over 1,000 individuals reportedly took half in a March and March demonstration in Durban.
The Nigerian authorities stated no less than 130 Nigerian residents in South Africa had requested to be returned to Nigeria amid concern of violence, and Ghana reportedly relocated a citizen dwelling in South Africa after a xenophobic assault.
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Remoted incidents involving killings of migrants have been reported, and governments of Nigeria, Ghana and Mozambique have publicly expressed concern concerning the state of affairs. However Botswana, at time of publication, was not one among them.
South Africa and Botswana’s electrical energy commerce
Africa Test couldn’t discover any proof of an tackle by Botswana’s president Duma Boko, or any official authorities notices or media releases indicating that Botswana can be taking any particular actions relating to their residents in South Africa, corresponding to closing its borders.
As for the concept Botswana can be reducing off electrical energy provide to South Africa’s provinces, worsening the vitality disaster, there may be additionally no proof of this.
In accordance to the electrical energy division’s 2024 report, South Africa imported coal from Botswana, and a few electrical energy from Mozambique. South Africa and Botswana do have an electrical energy commerce relationship, however with Botswana as an importer of electrical energy from South Africa, not the opposite means round.
The declare additionally appeared right here, right here, right here, right here, right here, right here, right here, right here and right here.
