In Durban, police escort Mayor Cyril Xaba away from anti-migrant protest
In Durban, South Africa, police escorted eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba away from a hostile crowd during a protest near the Department of Home Affairs refugee reception office on Che Guevara Street. As The Rio Times reports, the demonstration was held by the March and March movement on September 10, and its participants refused to listen to the mayor's address.
Police cordon near the camp
According to Eyewitness News, more than a hundred participants from groups opposing illegal immigration blocked Che Guevara Street. Some protesters carried sticks and sjamboks, while others covered their faces with balaclavas. Public order police with shields formed a cordon between the demonstrators and migrants staying near the facility.
Protesters said they did not want to be addressed by a representative of the African National Congress and accused the party of protecting foreigners instead of South African citizens. Regional representatives of the uMkhonto weSizwe and ActionSA parties were also present at the demonstration.
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Clashes and possible relocation
The protest took place after a clash near the same office on September 3 between supporters of March and March and foreigners from the camp. After stones began to be thrown, police used rubber bullets and stun grenades. At least five people were hospitalized, while several others were detained.
Hundreds of foreigners, mostly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have been living in temporary shelters near the office since May. They said they had left their homes because they feared targeted attacks. During a check of 459 foreigners in May, the Department of Home Affairs found that 457 of them were in the country legally. Two were arrested: one had a rejected permit application, while the other had a fraudulent permit.
March and March legal head Xolani Zuma said the movement would go to court seeking the removal of the camp within 7–14 days. Authorities are also preparing to transfer people from the camp to the Lindela Repatriation Centre near Johannesburg. According to South African police, at least four migrants have died in anti-migrant unrest in the country this year.
