South African police fired rubber bullets and teargas yesterday to disperse hundreds of protesters demanding tougher action against foreigners in the coastal city of Durban.
They specifically cited foreigners from Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mexico, and other countries, blaming them for taking jobs and contributing to crime.
“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.”
81‑year‑old Thembi Dlamini from Clermont, west of Durban, speaking at the protest, said, “I have seen my country going down because officials take bribes to give documents illegally, police allow drug trade because they are paid.
The protest reflects rising tensions in South Africa over unemployment and competition for jobs, with nearly 32 per cent of the population currently unemployed.
