Pretoria mob threatens to burn traders in their shops
Anti-immigrant groups forced foreign-owned shops to close near a refugee office. A reporter was assaulted. A Nigerian trader of 24 years was among those shut out.
Pretoria — Protesters from anti-immigrant groups threatened to burn foreign shopkeepers inside their shops in Pretoria on Friday, the South African news agency GroundUp reports.
"Your time is up! We will lock you in your shops and set them on fire," demonstrators shouted on Luttig Street, near the Refugee Reception Office in Marabastad. Shops on the street were forced to close.
A GroundUp reporter covering the protest was assaulted and had his phone taken. Four police officers eventually dispersed the crowd.
Who was there
The groups taking part were March and March, Operation Dudula and the United Progressive People's Alliance Party.
"We are staying here until the Home Affairs staff leave," said Tsaka Tsepedi, a spokesperson for Operation Dudula.
The traders
Among those affected was Samuel Michael, who is from Nigeria and has lived in South Africa for 24 years. Another business owner, Abed Khan, said the campaign was "going to bring nothing but hunger in this country". A South African shop owner, Vinay Maharaj, was also affected.
The wider unrest
The protest followed the burning of 14 cars in Durban on Thursday and the looting of shops there.
The acting police minister, Firoz Cachalia, said: "Our people have an entirely legitimate right to protest."
Chris Mapingure, who chairs the Zimbabwe Migrants Support Network, said he was shocked that Home Affairs had reversed its position on receiving asylum applications.
This report is based on reporting by GroundUp, published by Daily Maverick.
