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South African police on Wednesday fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of anti-immigrant protesters in Durban, as tensions flared during a demonstration targeting Nigerians and other foreign nationals.
The protesters flooded the streets, chanting and waving placards while demanding stricter immigration policies and the deportation of undocumented foreigners, amid rising public anger over jobs and security concerns.
Security operatives initially kept the situation under control, preventing the crowd from advancing towards sensitive areas. However, the protest took a violent turn after a small group broke away, harassed passersby and looted shops, prompting a swift police crackdown.
The demonstration was mobilised by groups including Operation Dudula, alongside political actors, as anti-foreigner sentiment continues to shape public discourse ahead of local elections.
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Speaking during the protest, Herman Mashaba, leader of ActionSA, defended the action, saying, “People can call us names but we cannot allow a situation where our country is being destroyed before our very own eyes.”
He accused authorities of failing to act, adding, “We are seeing our government allowing our country to be flooded by groups from all over the world… Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh… this is unacceptable.”
Some residents echoed similar frustrations, blaming unemployment and corruption for the growing tensions. An 81-year-old protester, Thembi Dlamini, said, “Jobs are being taken away… Where will our children get jobs?” highlighting the economic strain driving the unrest.
