Human rights activist Uhuru Dempers has appealed for calm and restraint ahead of the planned anti-foreign protest in South Africa.

Dempers made the appeal in an interview with NBC News.

A coalition of anti-immigration groups, led by the civic movement "March and March", has scheduled a nationwide protest and a national shutdown for June 30th. 

The organisers have set a deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa, citing concerns over unemployment and crime.

The planned actions have created significant tension and fear across the SADC region.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are under this threat of intimidation and violence. We look forward to the day that even the peaceful demonstrations planned on 30 June will not result in loss of lives and that citizens can exercise their right to show their unhappiness but not to take the law into their own hands and take out the lives of others," said Dempers. He added, "It is very shameful and must be condemned, and I hope that authority will come out in full force and rescue the situation to protect the citizens and to protect those that are considered illegal and legal."

It has been reported that some countries are already working on plans to repatriate their citizens from South Africa.

Dempers also advised regional leaders to work toward a long-term solution to the issue.

"I have an understanding with the South African government that this is a regional crisis and must be resolved at the national level by SADC by coming up with joint economic projects. They must negotiate trade deals, etc. With this, we can have a situation with equal development in the region, with no dominant economy where people feel that if they go there, they will benefit."

With the 30th June deadline approaching, all eyes are on South Africa.