Durban Police Disperse Anti-Immigration Protest

In Durban, South Africa, police clashed with hundreds of anti-immigration protesters on Wednesday, firing teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd after some participants broke away and began harassing bystanders and looting shops. The demonstration, organized by civic groups and political parties, demanded stricter enforcement of immigration laws, enhanced border controls, and the mass deportation of undocumented foreign nationals.

The protest drew participants from organizations including the March and March movement, the vigilante group Operation Dudula, and the political party ActionSA. Marchers gathered in the city center, waving placards, chanting, and singing as they advanced toward the beachfront area, which some claimed was a hub for drug dealing and criminal activity. Security forces initially contained the group to prevent escalation, but tensions rose when a faction veered off course, prompting the forceful response. Local shop owners, anticipating potential unrest, closed their businesses early.

Organizers framed the event as a call for government action on what they described as inadequate immigration management. Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, leader of March and...