Hundreds of South Africans took to the streets of Durban on Wednesday, protesting against the presence of foreign nationals in the country.
The demonstration quickly turned tense as security operatives fired rubber bullets and teargas to disperse the crowd.
The protest was driven by growing anger over unemployment and economic hardship.
Many of the demonstrators accused foreigners of taking over jobs and increasing crime in their communities. Placards were raised. Chants filled the streets. The message was direct and emotional.
Participants included supporters of different political groups as well as members of Operation Dudula, a group known for its stance against undocumented migrants.
The protesters specifically mentioned nationals from Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mexico, and other countries.
Speaking during the protest, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba defended the demonstration. He said, “People can call us names but we cannot allow a situation where our country is being destroyed before our very own eyes.”
He added, “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.”
Tension rose as the march progressed. Some business owners hurriedly shut down their shops ahead of the protest. There were fears of violence and looting.
Reports later indicated that a few protesters harassed passersby and attacked some shops. This triggered a swift response from the police.
Officers moved in to control the situation. Teargas filled parts of the area. Rubber bullets were fired to break up the crowd. The streets were eventually cleared, but the tension remained visible.
An elderly resident, Thembi Dlamini, also spoke at the protest. The 81-year-old did not hide her frustration. She said, “I have seen my country going down because officials take bribes to give documents illegally, police allow drug trade because they are paid.”
She continued, “Jobs are being taken away by our brothers from other parts of Africa who are here illegally. Where will our children get jobs?”
The protest highlights a deeper issue in South Africa. The country is battling a high unemployment rate, currently around 32 percent. Many citizens feel left behind. This has led to rising resentment towards foreigners, especially those believed to be undocumented.
Official data shows that about three million foreigners live in South Africa. This represents just over five percent of the population. However, the perception among many locals is that the number is much higher and continues to grow.
The situation has once again brought attention to recurring xenophobic tensions in the country. Similar protests and attacks have been recorded in the past, often targeting African migrants, including Nigerians.
