Arrests, shooting, and military deployment mark South Africa's anti-migration marches

South Africa faced a day of heightened tension as an anti-immigration protest drew around 10,000 participants, leading to the arrest of 361 undocumented individuals. The demonstrations, while largely described as peaceful by interim Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, were marred by a violent shootout in Johannesburg's Hillbrow neighborhood, injuring two people, including a 17-year-old.

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Today 361 undocumented immigrants were arrested.

The violence erupted after the main march had dispersed, with three suspects allegedly firing from an apartment building at a passing group of demonstrators. Police responded by arresting the suspects and seizing two licensed firearms. In response to the unrest, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was deployed to affected areas as a precautionary measure, though Cachalia deemed its involvement largely unnecessary.

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We had a good day (...). This afternoon we had peaceful protests and effective law enforcement across the country.

Cachalia acknowledged the social discontent fueling the protests but stressed the need for institutional channels to address immigration policies before upcoming local elections. He emphasized the government's commitment to building consensus on immigration laws amidst rising xenophobic tensions, a recurring issue in South Africa that often escalates into violence, particularly in vulnerable communities.

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The three suspects were arrested and two licensed firearms, allegedly used in the incident, were seized for further investigation.