South African police arrest 69 after anti-immigrant protest turns violent

South African police said they arrested 69 people after an anti-immigrant protest in Jeffreys Bay, in Eastern Cape province, turned violent, led to looting and left at least one person in hospital.

Police said the protest was organised by the anti-migrant group March and March. They said at least 23 tuck shops were looted. A police spokesperson said several foreign nationals were moved to a temporary shelter for their safety, and that one person was hospitalised because of the violence.

Police said the situation remained unstable and that police visibility had been increased.

The Jeffreys Bay unrest took place during weeks of protests and violence in South Africa targeting undocumented immigrants. Nearly 150,000 people have left South Africa in recent weeks, according to an AFP tally based on figures from African countries that have repatriated their nationals.

Police have said the recent protests demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave South Africa have killed at least four foreigners. Some African governments repatriating their citizens have put the death toll higher.

In some areas of Gauteng province, which includes Pretoria and Johannesburg, mobs armed with sticks have gone door to door demanding that foreign nationals leave. The mobs have accused foreign nationals of taking jobs from local people.

The government said that, as of July 8, about 350 people had been arrested for unlawful conduct, intimidation, incitement and related offences.