WATCH: Looting as anti-foreigner protesters make their way to Tshwane CBD
Anti-foreigner marchers left a trail of destruction on their 15km march to Pretoria CBD on Friday‚ tearing down makeshift shelters of pilgrims camping outside the Tshwane Events Centre along WF Nkomo street where a weekend-long church service is held.
A sea of about 1‚000 people coming from the western direction and heading east towards the city centre also overturned trailers acting as mobile kitchens used by businesspeople to sell to food to pilgrims.
“We were sitting minding our own business when we saw a large group of people heading towards us. We saw road signs flying as they approached so we ran away leaving our belongings behind‚” said one of the pilgrims‚ Emmanuel Nkosi.
WATCH: 'We are f***ing tired' – machete-wielding foreigner shouts during heated standoff in Pretoria There is rising tension between armed foreigners and those taking part in a contentious 'xenophobic' march organised by the Mamelodi Concerned Residents group in Pretoria.
He said they watched from a distance as the mob destroyed their camping site‚ overturning the trailers and took their bags as they chanted anti-immigrant songs.
The pilgrims‚ the majority of them Zimbabweans and Malawians‚ attend the service of Malawian Prophet Shepherd Bushiri.
“These people are being used by the by the devil to destroy the world. I ran for my life‚” Nkosi said.
Tshwane Protests: 'Stand up and say no to xenophobia' The South African Jewish Board of Deputies has appealed to all South Africans to individually do what they can to defuse xenophobic tensions.
Reymond Moyo‚ a Zimbabwean pilgrim‚ said he was too late to get away so he was grabbed by the throat and slapped before he was searched for valuables and told to go home or die.
“I was really scared. It was only when others pleaded with the group they let me go. They took my cell phone and watch. Luckily I did not have any money with me‚” he said.
The mob‚ some on foot while others rode in bakkies‚ cars and minibuses‚ proceeded to the CBD‚ attacking anyone trying to take a picture or video of them with a cell phone.
#Foreignermarch mob is traveling by foot and by many different vehicles. Quantums, vans and private cars pic.twitter.com/oNcCzPCEi4
— Lindokuhle Xulu (@LindokuhlXulu1) February 24, 2017
A teenager walking up Bosman street and listening to music on his cell phone through earphones felt the wrath of the mob.
“Are you taking pictures? You are full of nonsense‚” one of the marchers said as he accosted his frightened victim with a stick.
The youngster tried to run away but he was surrounded within seconds and thrown to the ground.
The marshals intervened and he was then left alone.
"Foreigners must go. Today is today. We will kill them. They are destroying South Africa‚" the group sang as they left the frightened young man.
"They must go!" #Foreignermarch#TshwaneUnrestpic.twitter.com/MtvSe6kwYc
— Abigail Javier (@AbigailJavier_) February 24, 2017
Back in Atteridgeville‚ where marchers blocked all the main roads with burning tyres and rubble early in the morning‚ no establishment was opened for business.
A dark cloud of smoke hung over the Mshenguville informal settlement as the main road running through the settlement was littered with burning tyres.
Residents are now gearing for the worst in anticipation of the group's return from Pretoria CBD.
“It was bad in the morning. It was really scary as now anybody who was not part of the march was becoming a target. They even uprooted trees and damaged highways' side barriers‚” a resident who only wanted to be identified as Molefe said.
A stand off between the locals and the foreigners as the helicopter gets close to the ground. #Foreignermarchpic.twitter.com/vlm4UqBCtV
— Lindokuhle Xulu (@LindokuhlXulu1) February 24, 2017
There is no public transport running between Atteridgeville and the Pretoria city centre‚ with stranded commuters having to walk the 15km distance.
Police were on hand to prevent the group of protesters reaching a gathering of foreigners. Stun grenades were thrown and rubber bullets fired‚ TMG Multimedia reports.
Some of the foreigners sheltered behind residential fences as the mob approached them.
Foreigners behind residential fences #Foreignermarch#TshwaneUnrestpic.twitter.com/F7Zd5CElMX
— Abigail Javier (@AbigailJavier_) February 24, 2017
While most are not armed‚ police found machetes in one of the cars.
Amongst the placards carried by the protesters was an appeal for US President Donald Trump "to come save us".
Placard from marchers #Foreignermarch#TshwaneUnrestpic.twitter.com/Qfk8EJPmyn
— Abigail Javier (@AbigailJavier_) February 24, 2017
- TMG Digital/TimesLIVE