South African police fired rubber bullets and teargas to disperse hundreds of anti-immigrant protesters in the coastal city of Durban on Wednesday.
The demonstration, organised by political parties and xenophobic vigilante movement Operation Dudula, saw protesters take to the streets waving placards and chanting demands for tougher action against undocumented foreign nationals. The movement’s name means “push back” in Zulu.
Police initially held marchers back from the beachfront, which protesters claimed was rife with drug dealers and criminal activity. However, a small group broke away, harassing bystanders and looting shops, prompting police to use force.
Some shop owners had shuttered their businesses before the march began, fearing looting and violence.
Herman Mashaba, leader of the ActionSA party, which promises to tighten immigration controls, addressed protesters at the event.
“People can call us names but we cannot allow a situation where our country is being destroyed before our very own eyes,” said Mashaba. “We are seeing our government allowing our country to be flooded by groups from all over the world as far as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mexico, all over the world. So we are saying to our government this is unacceptable.”
Among the marchers was Thembi Dlamini (81) from Clermont, west of Durban, who said she had also joined last year’s protest.
“I have seen my country going down because officials take bribes to give documents illegally, police allow drug trade because they are paid,” she said. “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 has been repeatedly swept by waves of anti-foreigner sentiment, often erupting into violent and sometimes deadly attacks on immigrants. With local elections due in less than a year, the issue has become a political flashpoint.
As the continent’s most industrialised economy, South Africa is a prime destination for people seeking work, despite its own unemployment rate of around 32%. According to the statistics agency, some three million foreigners, or 5,1% of the population, live in the country.
Competition for jobs has caused resentment among unemployed South Africans.
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