South African police have arrested 69 people after an anti-immigrant protest in Eastern Cape turned violent, leaving at least 23 foreign-owned shops looted….reports Africa Daily News Desk
South African police have arrested 69 people after an anti-immigrant protest descended into violence in the Eastern Cape Province, where at least 23 foreign-owned spaza shops were looted and several people were injured.
Authorities said the situation in Jeffreys Bay and the wider Kouga region had returned to calm by Saturday following the unrest on Thursday, although foreign-owned spaza shops in the area remained closed as a precaution.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the suspects, aged between 18 and 52, were arrested on charges of public violence after groups targeted at least 23 spaza shops during the protests.
Police said several foreign nationals had been moved to temporary shelters for their safety, while three injured people were referred for medical treatment.
All 69 suspects remain in custody and are expected to appear before the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Vuyisile Ncata has instructed police to intensify search-and-seizure operations to recover looted property. Investigators are also examining the role of protest organisers in allegedly inciting the violence, with authorities indicating that additional arrests could follow as inquiries continue.
“We are satisfied with the current calm, but we will not let our guard down. I call on community leaders to continue engaging residents and to cooperate with police in handing over any looted goods. Lawlessness will not be tolerated, and those who break the law will face the full might of justice,” Ncata said.
The unrest comes amid heightened tensions in South Africa over illegal immigration, with recent demonstrations in several parts of the country calling for stricter enforcement of immigration laws.
Earlier this week, the South African government rejected what it described as a sustained misinformation campaign portraying the country as increasingly isolated from the rest of Africa because of recent protests against illegal migration.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the campaign had been ongoing for the past two months and sought to depict South Africa as a “pariah state” that should be taken before international courts.
Magwenya said the campaign had continued despite repeated government statements condemning acts of vigilantism against foreign nationals, reaffirming that immigration laws must be enforced through legal processes and stressing the government’s commitment to upholding the country’s Constitution.
He also accused critics of misrepresenting routine diplomatic engagements to reinforce claims that South Africa was becoming internationally isolated.
“Even ordinary diplomatic exchanges over meetings have been deliberately misrepresented to create an impression that South Africa is being isolated,” Magwenya said.
The police operation in Eastern Cape is continuing as authorities work to recover stolen goods, identify those responsible for organising the unrest and prevent further violence.
