South Africa’s security agencies have restored “relative calm” in the streets of Soweto in Johannesburg following violent Monday clashes between locals and foreign nationals from other African countries, a senior city official said on Wednesday.
Johannesburg Mayoral Committee for Community Safety Member, David Tembe, said law enforcement agencies had succeeded in restoring law and order in Alexander Township — which is part of Soweto in the north of the commercial city.
Tensions came to a head as the Dudula Movement members took to the streets of the township earlier this week, burning tyres and forcefully closing all shops and informal stores belonging to foreign nationals Monday evening.
Dudula’s members are demanding a total shutdown of all South African townships in protest against undocumented foreign nationals whom they accused of dominating jobs in the informal sector — jobs that the foreigners themselves have set up like vending goods and grocery shops using their own money.
Tembe said the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), assisted by the South African Police Service, would remain in the township until residents felt safe from Dudula’s vandalism.
“We are going to be here in Alexandra. We’ve been here since early this morning. The South African Police Service and the JMPD will remain here until complete order has been restored,” Tembe said.
He added: “There was nothing that happened Tuesday night because we have been here. I think we are winning the war, and order is being restored, and will be maintained.”
“We’ll remain here until such time the people of Alexandra are safe. That includes even the foreigners themselves because that’s our job,” Tembe said.
The movement has denied xenophobic accusations, saying they are only protecting the economy from undocumented migrants.
NM/as/APA