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.
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.
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.
Dozens of foreign-owned shops and properties have been attacked in Atteridgeville‚ Mamelodi and Pretoria West in the past week‚ raising concerns of an outbreak of xenophobic violence.
Police have fired rubber bullets to try and disperse protesters as well as the large number of foreign nationals who have gathered together for safety - and vowing to defend themselves.
Stun grenades have been thrown, rubber bullets shot #Foreignermarch#TshwaneUnrestpic.twitter.com/eDMIXgsbLT
— Abigail Javier (@AbigailJavier_) February 24, 2017
A student was caught in the crossfire as the tension escalated:
A resident in Pretoria West earlier told TimesLIVE that she cannot leave her apartment complex due to intimidation by protesters‚ one of many unable to get to work on Friday.
Minister calls for calm before planned march against foreigners in Tshwane Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has met organisers of a contentious planned march in Tshwane against foreign nationals planned for Friday and appealed for for calm.
Lindokuhle Xulu‚ a journalism student at TUT‚ is following the mob that is travelling by foot and in vehicles.
See a selection of his visual reporting here:
The man in white having to produce his ID after he got a beating from the mob #ForeignerMarchpic.twitter.com/2rIh4q96Gs
— Lindokuhle Xulu (@LindokuhlXulu1) February 24, 2017
#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
Foreigners looking ready to defend themselves as they hold their ground at Luttig street. #Foreignermarchpic.twitter.com/Gm5CQZd786
— Lindokuhle Xulu (@LindokuhlXulu1) February 24, 2017
A man who claims is the organizer says violence is not the intention,people are trying to ruin their #Foreignermarchpic.twitter.com/0elFUeK33h
— Lindokuhle Xulu (@LindokuhlXulu1) February 24, 2017
Police dispersing the mob as they try to Luttig street where there is a group of foreigners. #Foreignermarchpic.twitter.com/cwkVBSinYR
— Lindokuhle Xulu (@LindokuhlXulu1) February 24, 2017
One of the foreigner's community leader says they will defend themselves to the last. #Foreignermarchpic.twitter.com/awThoAmpJD
— Lindokuhle Xulu (@LindokuhlXulu1) February 24, 2017
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
Non-governmental organisation Section 27 on Friday condemned the "shameful xenophobic march", as did the Economic Freedom Fighters.
Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa also took to social media to condemn resurgent anti-foreigner sentiment in South Africa.
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies meanwhile has appealed to all South Africans to individually do what they can to defuse xenophobic tensions.
"Gauteng appears to be on the threshold of yet another outbreak of horrific xenophobic violence against foreign nationals. Already‚ there have been serious incidents of arson and looting targeting immigrants in both Johannesburg and Tshwane‚ while tensions are being further heightened by an upsurge in inflammatory rhetoric‚ particularly on social media‚" the board said in a statement. The march in #Tshwane against migrants would further inflame tensionsm‚ it feared.