Several people were injured on Monday, following clashes between South Africans and foreign nationals in Johannesburg’s Alexandra Township.

The clashes came about after South Africans who identified themselves as part of the Dudula Movement went around forcing businesses to close their shops. The South Africans claimed they were searching for foreign nationals employed by these businesses. They also alleged that they were looking for business owners who did not have government approvals and valid paperwork.

The South Africans vowed to stop illegal immigrants from operating while some foreign nationals, mainly street vendors, stood their ground and refused to back down. Several people were injured after the confrontations degenerated into physical altercations.

South Africa Xenophobia - Several Injured Following Clashes Between South Africans and Foreign Nationals

Commenting on the situation on the ground, Adolph Marema,

“Residents feel aggrieved that there is a majority of non-documented foreign nationals who are participating in economic activities when they are supposed to be the ones that are benefiting. There is pushback, seeing that government is not doing anything about it, the law enforcement agencies are becoming spectators to the situation, and now there is a clash between [South Africans] and the brothers from neighbouring countries,” he said.

“The situation is bad, the word bad is an understatement. The ignorance of government and the lawmakers who are parliamentarians in dealing with the issues, they are actually dismissing and excusing the issue instead of attending to the issues, and this becomes a problem.”