Durban - The Durban CBD came to a standstill on Tuesday after xenophobic violence spread into the city’s streets.
After news of attacks on foreigners and the looting of foreign-owned shops in one part of the city spread to the Point area, angry residents vowed to fight, refusing to be at the mercy of “useless thugs”.
Nigerians in the Point area vowed that they would protect themselves:
“We have nowhere else to go. We can’t go back; the sea is behind us, so we have to fight back,” said one.
They built barriers out of burning tyres and scattered debris to protect themselves.
Large retail shops like Edgars and Ackermans in Dr Pixley KaSeme (West) Street and fast food restaurants in Mahatma Gandhi (Point) Road closed their doors as the violence threatened to spiral further out of control.
Many of the shop owners and vendors tried to rescue their goods.
The drama, which until on Tuesday had been restricted to eThekwini townships and informal settlements, spread to parts of the city, seen as a stronghold for foreigners.
Pandemonium erupted when news spread that foreign-owned shops were being looted in Joseph Nduli (Russell) Street and that the attackers were advancing through the city.
From Joseph Nduli Street, they proceeded to wreak havoc at The Workshop’s flea market, where many foreigners had stalls.
Police were quick to respond to the looting and dispersed the crowd. The stall owners were forced to close shop.
A manager in one of the buildings in Dr Goonam (Prince Edward) Street, Jerry Samuel, said he witnessed looting of shops there and in Dr Yusuf Dadoo (Grey) and Ingcunce (Albert) streets.
“When the owners pulled the doors down, the looters started grabbing stuff displayed outside. We could only save what was inside,” he said.
Many South African-owned shops were also looted while others quickly shut down.
“Some of the foreigners left their stuff and ran away because they were scared. We could not protect them because the groups were aggressive,” he said.
The Mercury saw locals attacking foreigners who were walking in the streets. Police arrested two men at the forefront of the group.
The 320 West Street building was also not spared.
After hearing of the attacks in the city centre, foreigners in the Point area created a defensive barrier, burning tyres and scattering debris across Mahatma Gandhi Road, bringing the area to a standstill. A large group was armed with bush knives, hammers and cricket bats. Police used stun grenades and water cannon to disperse the crowd.
The SAPS and metro police struggled to maintain order.
An angry group of Nigerians, who spoke to The Mercury at the scene, issued a spine-chilling warning to their “rivals” that they had nowhere else to go and would defend themselves.
Shako Kuminga, who represents the Congolese in Durban, said people received frantic calls from their employees and families telling them of the violence in town.
“Our girlfriends and wives work near The Workshop and 320 (Dr Pixley KaSeme Street). My girlfriend called me saying, ‘Come fetch me, they are hitting us,’” he said. “When we heard that we rallied to protect ourselves.
“I don’t even know where she is right now,” he said.
“They didn’t get here… here it’s the Nigerians, Zimbabweans, Ethopians and Congolese.
“We want to stop them; we want to defend ourselves. We have nowhere else to go. We can’t go back; there is the sea behind us, so we have to fight back. We are waiting for them. Our brothers have already been killed. We have nothing else to lose.”
They were livid about the treatment meted out by locals, saying: “You will never hear of such a thing in Nigeria. Locals will beat you for calling someone a foreigner. We are brothers in our eyes.”
The group said: “It’s easy; government can just open the border gates and let us go if they don’t want us. But they must know that no plane must leave South Africa to come to our countries.”
There were reports of xenophobic attacks and looting in Waterloo and central Verulam on Tuesday. It was not clear whether there were any injuries in the incidents.
Police spokesman Jay Naicker said that in the Verulam CBD, two shops belonging to foreigners were looted by a group of people at about 7pm, during load shedding.
“No one was injured and a 31-year-old suspect was arrested. He will appear in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court soon.”
Situation ‘diabolical and nefarious’
The city said on Tuesday night that it would not allow eThekwini to be turned into a war zone.
“Government has noted with grave concerns and regret that the attacks on foreign nationals and looting of their shops have continued around the province.”
The statement said that it was completely unacceptable for South Africans to treat foreign nationals in such a “diabolical and nefarious manner”.
Mayor James Nxumalo called upon all members of society “to join us in rejecting and condemning xenophobia and all related discrimination”.
Earlier on Tuesday deputy mayor Nomvuso Shabalala spoke at the Khula Business Tour at the Dube TradePort.
“Before we have always said that xenophobia was in the townships. Today we have seem something we have never seen before.
“It has come to the inner city. We don’t believe this thing that people are saying that foreigners have taken their businesses. We believe that there is an element of criminality and jealousy behind this. Durban has received a number of accolades, such as the best place to live, and we are worried that this is tarnishing the image of our city of Durban. The violence must stop – it is not acceptable and it is not humane.”
MEC for Economic Development Mike Mabuyakhulu said the premier had called a meeting at city hall at 2.30pm on Wednesday, when all business stakeholders would meet to discuss solutions to the xenophobic violence.
“He wants to assure the public that the provincial government is providing leadership, this is not the time to panic.”
Police Ministry spokesman Musa Zondi debunked rumours that the army was to be deployed, saying the military was not trained to handle such situations.
KZN EMS spokesman Robert McKenzie said at least six people, all foreigners, were attended to during the attacks on Tuesday. He said three were stabbed and one was burnt. The other two were transported by private ambulances.
Police said 12 people were arrested in Durban on Tuesday for public violence.
The Mercury