Foreign nationals with valid documentation say they fear for their safety after being threatened and told to leave South Africa regardless of their legal status.

At least 20 foreign nationals were detained during operations in affected communities, while police and community policing structures worked to prevent violence during anti-illegal immigration action across the Umhlali policing precinct last week.

Umhlali Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson Josha Daniel said Etete, Pololand informal settlement and Shaka’s Head were identified as hotspots where residents gathered to remove people they believed were in the country illegally.

There were also reports of intimidation and looting in parts of Tongaat, Magwaveni and Hambanathi.

According to Daniel, information received through CPF members enabled police and Community Emergency Policing (CEP) members to respond before situations escalated.

“Residents were informed they could not remove people themselves. Police had to verify documentation and deal with each case through the proper legal process,” he said.

Daniel said police intervened to stop an attempted looting of shops in Shaka’s Head and also educated communities that they could not force people from their homes.

“There were no serious incidents in the identified hotspot areas. Police reacted swiftly to the intelligence that was provided,” he said.

However, a 41-year-old Zimbabwean man from Shaka’s Head said his room was looted after he received threats the previous day.

“They forced open my security gate and took my belongings. I had already gone into hiding after they threatened me, and I sent my wife and children back to Zimbabwe the previous weekend when the threats began,” he said.

A 32-year-old Zimbabwean woman from Etete said residents also ordered her to leave despite police confirming her documents were valid. “Police checked my papers and saw everything was in order, but they [the crowd] still said I must leave with or without papers. Police helped, and the group left, but I no longer feel safe,” she said.

“I thought this was about people who were here illegally. But it seems some people are against any foreigner.”

Another Zimbabwean woman said she is preparing to send her five children to Zimbabwe.
“The sad part is they know nothing about Zimbabwe. They grew up in South Africa and cannot even speak Shona. It is a very painful situation,” she said.

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has repeatedly distanced the movement from violence and looting. Ahead of the 30 June demonstrations, she told supporters: “We are not stealing and looting. What we are going to do is just talk to the government so that they [illegal foreign nationals] must leave.”