Protests targeting Nigerians and other foreign nationals erupted across parts of South Africa on Wednesday, as demonstrators took to the streets demanding tougher action against undocumented migrants, whom they blame for rising crime and shrinking job opportunities.
Tensions escalated during the march as some shop owners shut down their businesses in anticipation of possible violence, while reports indicated that a small group of protesters harassed bystanders and looted shops, prompting swift intervention by security operatives.
Police responded by deploying crowd-control measures, including teargas and rubber bullets, to disperse the gathering and restore order.
According to reports, Thembi Dlamini, an 81-year-old resident, from Clermont, west of Durban, attributed the situation to corruption and weak law enforcement.
She alleged that some officials accept bribes to issue documents illegally, while security agencies turn a blind eye to criminal activities.
“I have seen my country going down because officials take bribes to give documents illegally. Police allow drug trade because they are paid.
“Jobs are being taken away by our brothers from other parts of Africa who are here illegally. Where will our children get jobs?” , she said.
The protest is said to reflects mounting frustration in South Africa over persistent unemployment and economic hardship.
Official figures put the unemployment rate at nearly 32 percent, intensifying competition for limited job opportunities.
According to national statistics, about three million foreign nationals, roughly 5.1 percent of the population, currently reside in the country, a figure frequently cited in debates around migration and economic inclusion.
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