More than 900 people have been arrested in protests against people from South Africa | Immigration Issues

Dozens of people have been arrested in South Africa as anti-immigrant violence rages across the country.

Police in South Africa have arrested more than 900 people during anti-immigrant protests in the country that were mostly peaceful but sometimes turned violent with shops looted and one person killed.

The demonstration on Tuesday was organized by a coalition of more than 20 groups, including the March and March movement. They were invited to sign an unofficial sign “deadline” to get undocumented immigrants out of the country.

Of the 120 marches that took place in South Africa, 108 were peaceful and 12 saw police intervention, Deputy National Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Mosikili said the reasons for arresting these people stem from human violence and theft and violation of immigration laws.

The Western Cape had 215 people arrested, followed by the Eastern Cape with 208.

A presidential statement said President Cyril Ramaphosa held an emergency meeting on Monday with the organizers of the protests to call for calm.

In the speech, Ramaphosa acknowledged the main grievances of the protestors, writing: “South Africans have complained about illegal immigration, border management, forced public services. …

However, the president drew a line against the constitution.

“Whatever will motivate you, taking the law into your own hands is waiting and has no place in our constitutional democracy.”

Despite those warnings, local explosions occurred.

In Johannesburg’s Alexandra township, police have confirmed that one person was shot dead late on Tuesday during a robbery at a spaza shop. Troops have also been deployed to the Hillbrow neighborhood in Johannesburg after a shooting that injured two people, including a 17-year-old boy.

In the coastal city of Durban, thousands of protesters marched chanting “Abahambe!” (“They have to go!”)

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma addressed the crowd, warning that protests will continue every Thursday until the government imposes strict border controls.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International South Africa, condemned the move targeting immigrantsthey argue that they are being used as scapegoats for economic damage, high unemployment and a last resort.