France, June 30 -- Thousands of people marched Tuesday in cities across South Africa to demand the departure of undocumented foreign nationals.

The protests have been mobilised by a loose coalition of minor political parties and small citizen-led vigilante groups which analysts say appear to be well organised and have a strong social media presence.

A few thousand South Africans took to the streets in the centre of the financial capital Johannesburg, where most shops stayed shuttered, workers stayed home, and transport hubs were quiet.

They marched behind organisers, waving flags and placards and watched by police in bulletproof jackets and riot helmets.

In the southeastern city of Durban, the Zulu heartland, protesters turned out in ...