Xenophobic attacks in South Africa left foreign-owned shops burnt in the Durban CBD on Monday, allegedly by MKMVA members, Durban police said.
“It is confirmed xenophobic attacks. It emanates from young MKMVA members vandalising and assaulting foreign shop owners,” metro police spokesperson Superintendent Zama Dlamini said.
She said some shop owners were injured during the attacks.
“They [MKMVA] allegedly attacked them and there was retaliation which resulted in some injuries, but the police managed to stabilise the situation. The fire department was also there because some of the shops were petrol bombed.”
Dlamini said authorities were monitoring the CBD.
Foreign-owned informal traders & shops in the Durban CBD came under attack earlier today on Bertha Mkhize Street. A group of 10-15 men were walking around and asking them to leave their stalls. When they refused, they came under attack. This shop was also looted. @etvNewsSA pic.twitter.com/yJgQzW0T5i
— Nabeelah Shaikh (@Nabeelah_Shaikh) March 8, 2021
“We don’t have the number of injuries and shops damaged thus far because the group have moved to another location. For now, the situation is stabilised. Metro police, SAPS and fire department are present. For now, it is quiet.”
The Witness last year reported that MKMVA members met at Coastlands Hotel in the CBD to discuss how they would intensify their campaign against foreign owned shops.
At this meeting, they apparently agreed to launch a seven-day campaign to remove foreign shop owners operating in the city and would assist locals to take over businesses
With their thirst for blood and burning these hooligans may end up attacking you truckers please stay away Durban CBD pic.twitter.com/7aHmhiUzDe
— SA Trucker (@rsa_trucker) March 8, 2021
They allegedly also planned to target foreign nationals operating as vendors around The Workshop mall in the CBD.
MKMVA senior member in Pietermaritzburg, Babsy Sithole, at the time told the Witness that “the only language which government understood was that of practical action”.
News24 reached out to several MKMVA members whose phones were switched off, including KZN leader Themba Mavundla.
