Anti-immigrant march kicks-off in Pretoria

A group calling itself the Mamelodi Concerned Residents is expected to march to the Department of Home Affairs in Pretoria on Friday to protest against immigrants in South Africa, News24.com reported.

There are reports that roads have been blocked and shops have been looted in Atteridgeville ahead of an anti-immigrant protest in Pretoria.

Security services said "scores of people" are expected to take part in the march.



Law enforcement officers would be deployed along the route and at venues where memorandums would be handed over, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure said in a statement on Thursday.

Protesters blocked several streets in Atteridgeville on Friday morning, preventing residents from going to work, Gauteng police said.

They also threw rocks and burned tyres, said spokersperson Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini.



"We are not yet sure why they are protesting. We are not sure whether it about the [xenophobia] march," he said.

He could also not give an estimate of how many were taking part at this stage but said police were monitoring the situation.

The police were investigating reports of a newspaper truck that was looted.

#TshwaneUnrest A shop owned by a foreign national has just been looted.
MV pic.twitter.com/7lAcl1idiy

— Maryke Vermaak (@MarykeVermaak) February 24, 2017