Durban Protests: Three Houses And Motorbike Torched In Umbilo

Three houses and a motorbike have been torched in Umbilo, Durban, as anti-immigration protests turned volatile on Friday. One of the properties reportedly housed Nigerians who fled before the fire spread. Police and firefighters were at the scene battling the blazes, although it remained unclear who was responsible for setting the properties alight.

Durban Protests: Houses Occupied By Foreign Nationals Torched

Residents told Eyewitness News that the targeted properties were occupied by foreign nationals. Local resident Mthobisi Shinga alleged that some protesters had set one of the houses alight, although he acknowledged that this had not been confirmed. He said residents were frustrated by allegations that certain premises were being used to sell drugs and for prostitution.

“It was burnt by some of the people that were protesting, but it’s just an allegation that it was burnt by them, but of course we do understand what’s happening because the residents of this area, the community of Durban at large, they are very tired of seeing such places that are allegedly selling drugs and doing prostitution.”

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The Durban protests remained tense as hundreds of demonstrators continued gathering in the area. Police and firefighters moved between the burning properties as emergency crews worked to extinguish the flames. The circumstances surrounding the fires and the damage to the motorcycle had not been established.

Durban CBD Protesters Chant ‘Foreigners Must Go’

An estimated 1,000 protesters carrying sticks and stones marched through the Durban CBD, chanting “foreigners must go”. The demonstration appeared to move between Che Guevara Road, outside the Home Affairs refugee offices, and the city centre before returning to its starting point. The exact reason for the march remained unclear.

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During the Durban protests, demonstrators reportedly threw stones at shops and buildings, forcing police to intervene repeatedly. Officers deployed stun grenades and rubber bullets while a strong contingent followed the march on foot and in vehicles. The unrest added to pressure on law enforcement as the crowd moved through the inner city.

Durban Protests Continue As Police Monitor Unrest

The Durban protests followed acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia’s visit to the city to assess police readiness to respond to demonstrations. Officers remained on the ground as fires burned in Umbilo and protesters continued gathering elsewhere. The situation remained volatile, with uncertainty over who was responsible for the property attacks.

Police continued working to contain the unrest and monitor the movement of demonstrators. The incidents in Umbilo also raised concerns about the safety of people living in properties targeted during the protests. No details of arrests relating to the fires were provided in the information available.