Police officers intervened to rescue a local man who was reportedly assaulted and manhandled by anti-illegal immigration protesters yesterday (July 16), reports Alex News.

Tebogo Muhammad alleged he was falsely accused of stealing amid heightened tensions in Marlboro, Johannesburg.

This formed part of the national protests aimed at addressing the issue of undocumented migration. Previously, protesters in Alexandra vowed to sustain their demonstrations until authorities take decisive action against illegal immigration.

Muhammad found himself at the centre of a volatile confrontation when protesters accused him of theft, resulting in a visible bruise on his eye.

Despite the ordeal, Muhammad escaped without serious harm. He strongly denied any involvement in looting or theft.

“You know what the problem was: these people are fighting and are accusing the wrong people, saying I am the one who was looting, and after that they fight you,” Muhammad said.

He added that the protesters initially suspected him of being an undocumented foreign national, though he maintained they lacked evidence and acted as a group.

One protester reportedly pressed police to arrest him, but after intervention by officers, Muhammad was released.

Police maintained a strong, visible presence throughout the protests in parts of Marlboro, enabling a quick response to multiple incidents. No arrests related to the assault on Muhammad were reported immediately.

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