JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) —  Several thousands more foreign nationals clamoured to leave South Africa Friday, many of them gathered near the Zimbabwe border after a push that has already seen around 35,000 go home.

The exodus began weeks ago as fringe groups began demanding all illegal migrants leave by June 30, in a campaign that saw violent protests and clashes in which at least four foreign nationals were killed.

Around 11,000 people, most of them Malawians and Zimbabweans, were near the border town of Musina for registration and verification, the national broadcaster SABC reported.