South African police fired rubber bullets and teargas on Wednesday to disperse hundreds of protesters demanding tougher action against foreigners in the coastal city of Durban.

The protesters, including members of political parties and the xenophobic vigilante group Operation Dudula, marched through streets waving placards and chanting against undocumented immigrants.

They specifically cited foreigners from Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mexico, and other countries, blaming them for taking jobs and contributing to crime.

The leader of the ActionSA party, Herman Mashaba, said at the protest, “People can call us names but we cannot allow a situation where our country is being destroyed before our very own eyes.

“We are seeing our government allowing our country to be flooded by groups from all over the world as far as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mexico, all over the world. So we are saying to our government this is unacceptable.”

Some shop owners shut their businesses before the march, fearing looting and violence, while a small group of protesters reportedly harassed bystanders and looted shops, prompting a police response.

81‑year‑old Thembi Dlamini from Clermont, west of Durban, speaking at the protest, said, “I have seen my country going down because officials take bribes to give documents illegally, police allow drug trade because they are paid.

“Jobs are being taken away by our brothers from other parts of Africa who are here illegally. Where will our children get jobs?”

The protest reflects rising tensions in South Africa over unemployment and competition for jobs, with nearly 32 per cent of the population currently unemployed.

According to the statistics agency, around three million foreigners, about 5.1 per cent of the population, live in the country. (The PUNCH, but headline rejigged)