Thousands of South Africans marched through multiple cities to protest against undocumented foreign nationals and call for their removal. Demonstrators took to the streets with fires lit and sticks in hand, turning parts of the country into tense gathering points.Despite the government designating Tuesday as a normal workday, the turnout forced widespread shutdowns.
Most retail outlets remained closed, employees stayed home, and major transport terminals recorded low activity, based on reports from local outlets.Incidents of unrest were reported alongside the demonstrations. In areas around Johannesburg, security personnel were seen extracting a few foreign nationals from a crowd armed with large sticks.
There were also accounts of looting, stone-throwing, and clashes during the march.However, some participants described the protest as largely orderly. Speaking to TheCable, a number of marchers said organizers maintained discipline and submitted a formal memorandum to the government outlining their demands.
