South Africa Arrest Over 900 in Protests

South African police have arrested more than 900 people following nationwide anti-migrant protests that turned violent in some parts of the country.

Authorities said 120 protest marches were held on Tuesday, with 108 proceeding peacefully while police intervened in 12 demonstrations after unrest broke out.

Deputy National Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili said those arrested face charges ranging from immigration-related offences and public violence to robbery and harbouring undocumented migrants.

In Johannesburg’s Alexandra township, one person was shot dead during the looting of foreign-owned spaza shops. Police and soldiers were later deployed to parts of the city, including Hillbrow, where two people were injured in a separate shooting.

In Durban, police opened an inquest into the death of a foreign national who reportedly fell from the eighth floor of a building on the eve of the protests after believing he was being targeted.

The demonstrations followed an unofficial June 30 deadline issued by anti-immigration groups calling on undocumented migrants to leave South Africa.

The protests came after months of growing anti-foreigner sentiment that has displaced thousands of migrants and raised concerns about renewed xenophobic violence. Authorities said investigations into the incidents linked to the protests are continuing.

SOURCE: Reuters