VIDEO: XENOPHOBIC UNREST ESCALATES IN SOUTH AFRICA AS PROTESTS, SHOP CLOSURES, AND MOB VIOLENCE SPREAD
Read Time:2 Minute, 11 Second
By: Muftau Fatimo
Protests targeting Black foreign-owned businesses have intensified in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, leading to widespread shop closures and growing concerns about social and economic stability. The unrest comes as South Africa faces high unemployment currently around 32% with many locals blaming foreign entrepreneurs, particularly those from Nigeria, Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Somalia, for dominating the informal retail sector, including spaza shops.
On March 25, police in Durban used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse demonstrators after marches escalated into harassment and isolated incidents of looting. Many foreign-owned shops had already shut down ahead of the protests due to safety concerns.
Tensions have also been heightened by the first anniversary of the “March and March” movement, led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, which included coordinated inspections of foreign-owned businesses. Meanwhile, groups such as Operation Dudula supported by political parties including ActionSA and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) have called for stricter enforcement against undocumented migrants.
In recent months, authorities have closed more than 1,000 spaza shops over compliance and health concerns. However, critics argue that these measures disproportionately affect small-scale foreign traders, further fueling resentment and fear within affected communities.
In a separate but related incident, a disturbing case of mob violence has emerged, highlighting the growing climate of suspicion. A man from Limpopo was reportedly attacked after being wrongly identified as a foreign national. According to reports, he was accused of being a “kwerekwere” a derogatory term often used in xenophobic attacks and was asked to produce a passport. When he was unable to respond in Zulu, the mob allegedly took this as proof that he was not South African and proceeded to assault him. It was later confirmed that the victim is a South African citizen, and his only “offence” was not speaking or understanding Zulu at the time.
Meanwhile, reports from Durban indicate that xenophobic violence may be escalating further. Witnesses describe mobs chasing suspected foreign nationals through the streets in what some have called a vigilante-style crackdown. What reportedly began as a “clean-up” operation has since spiraled into fear and chaos, with growing concerns over targeted attacks. The South African Police Service (SAPS) has reportedly been present in affected areas as tensions continue to rise.
The developments have sparked widespread concern over safety, human rights, and the broader impact on social cohesion and economic stability in the region.
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