South African police on Wednesday used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse hundreds of anti-immigrant protests in the beachfront city of Durban.
An anti-foreigner attitude has led to violent attacks on immigrants, occasionally resulting in fatalities.
With municipal elections approaching in less than a year, the topic has become an even more contentious political hotspot.
Political parties and the xenophobic vigilante movement Operation Dudula, which means “push back” in Zulu, sparked the protests.
They flocked into the streets, brandishing placards, singing, and chanting, demanding stricter measures against unauthorized foreign nationals.
Police first stopped the demonstrators from proceeding to the seaside, which protesters alleged was filled with drug sellers and other illegal activity.
However, a small minority broke away, harassing bystanders and stealing shops, prompting the use of force.
Some shop owners had closed their doors well before the march began, fearing looting and potential violence.
“People can call us names, but we cannot allow a situation where our country is being destroyed before our very own eyes,” said Herman Mashaba, leader of the ActionSA party, which promises to tighten immigration controls.
“We are seeing our government allowing our country to be flooded by groups from all over the world, as far as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Mexico—all over the world. So we are saying to our government this is unacceptable,” he said at the protest.
Among the protesters was 81-year-old Thembi Dlamini from Clermont, west of Durban, who said she also joined last year’s protest.
“I have seen my country going down because officials take bribes to give documents illegally and police allow drug trade because they are paid,” she said, adding, “Jobs are being taken away by our brothers from other parts of Africa who are here illegally. Where will our children get jobs?”
South Africa, the continent’s biggest industrialized country, is a popular destination for job seekers, despite its own unemployment rate of over 32%.
Unemployed South Africans are resentful of the competition for jobs.
According to the statistics office, over three million foreigners, or 5.1% of the population, dwell in the country.
