Protests in Pretoria

Anti-immigrant protesters marched into South Africa’s administrative capital, Pretoria, on Feb. 24, and police responded with rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons after violence erupted. Protesters claimed that migrants are stealing jobs and are contributing to the country’s high crime rate, accusations denied by immigrant communities.

President Jacob Zuma condemned this latest wave of anti-foreigner violence, stating that many foreign citizens living in South Africa are law-abiding and contribute to the economy. Earlier in the week, angry mobs attacked Nigerians and looted shops belonging to Somalis, Pakistanis and other migrants in townships around Pretoria and parts of Johannesburg.