KUGOMPO CITY - The South African government must protect foreign business owners and deport those in the country illegally.
That’s the call from a refugee leader in the Eastern Cape, following tensions between locals and foreigners over undocumented migrants.
While the province’s 30 June protests were mostly peaceful, some Buffalo City Metro communities saw looting at spaza shops.
Residents of Nkandla Informal Settlement say criminals looted several spaza shops in the area.
READ: Eastern Cape communities vow to continue action over illegal immigration
One community leader says that many of the foreign shop owners targeted have played a key role in uplifting the community.
Fears are growing among foreigners operating businesses in the townships that, without visible policing, the looting will continue.
Eastern Cape police arrested 229 people during 28 separate marches on Tuesday.
Of those, 208 were undocumented foreign nationals.
- eNCA's Ronald Masinda reports.