LIVE: Tshwane residents march against immigrants

They are being joined by residents of Atteridgeville, who have been protesting since early this morning. 

"We want the government to deport people who are find with drugs, selling young women as prostitutes. We never had these things in South Africa," says the group's Makgoka Leghanyane.

Leghanyane says they will gather in Marabastad, and will march to the offices of Labour and Home Affairs. 

Tshwane Metro Police are urge motorists to avoid inner city streets, with the march expected to start at 10 this morning.

15:32

Police are in Brown Street where locals wanted to search foreign owned shops.

Police conducted searches and said they have not found anything. 

People are not happy.

14:45

Police fired rubber bullets at a group of South Africans in the Pretoria CBD.

The group was boxed in and then searched.

Police found and confiscated drugs. 

14:29

Police have stopped a group of South Africans heading to Sunnyside in the Pretoria CBD.

The group is angry because they want to go into Sunnyside and close drug dens. They shout "police must fall". 

14:26

Acting National Police Commissioner Khomotso Phahlane says police will not tolerate any violent and unlawful acts.

Phahlane addressed the media in Pretoria where local residents have taken to the streets in an anti-immigrant protest.

14:22

Tshwane Mayor Solly Msimanga has met with the organisers of the anti-immigrant protests in Pretoria.

City spokesperson Samkelo Mgobozi says Msimanga was assured that the protest will be peaceful.

13:20

Acting National Police Commissioner Khomotso Phahlane has arrived in the CBD.

12:48

City of Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba says he is concerned by the xenophobic violence in parts of Gauteng, most recently seen in Tshwane this morning.

"I call on all peace loving South Africans to reject groupings which seek to place the blame for crime and unemployment squarely at the feet of foreign residents in our communities. I implore our residents not to take the law into their own hands and respect human rights and the rule of law," says Mashaba.

12:37

Tension mounts as a group of Somali nationals try and keep another group of foreigners from approaching a group of locals.

Several Somali nationals have ignored a call to prayer, saying they are scared a group of local residents will return.

12:16

Gauteng Premier David Makhura has called on all political parties to act against xenophobia.

During his reply to the State Of The Province debate on Friday, Makhura said the voices of all political parties should be heard on this matter.

12:14

A South African man has been attacked by a group of foreigners. Cops stepped in and stopped it.

A member of the media has been shot with a rubber bullet.

11:37

Chaos in the CBD. Tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades fired.

11:28

The police have given the foreigners 10 minutes to leave, but more keep arriving. Foreign nationals are very upset about what is happening. 

11:08

There is a stand-off between a group of local residents and a group of foreigners. There is a chopper overhead that came down low between the two groups. People are very angry. 

11:05

Maryke Vermaak reports from outside the Desmond Tutu Refugee Centre in Pretoria where residents are threatening to burn down the houses of immigrants across the street if they don't leave.

10:55

People are livid. They say cops shoot at them, but not drug dealers.

10:52

There is a heavy police presence as a group of protesters make their way to the newly reopened Desmond Tutu Refugee Centre. 

10:44

A large group is now gathering at the old bus depot. One leader is taking weapons from people, saying they don't want violence.

10:34

The African National Congress (ANC) says it has noted with concern the attacks on foreigners in South Africa, particularly in Gauteng.

ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa says City of Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba should take some of the blame for the current situation.

10:29

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has condemned the violence aimed at foreigners in Attridgeville, Mamelodi and other areas of Tshwane.

Spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi says the attacks are caused by unemployment and inequality and the blame shouldn’t be placed on immigrants.

10:00

President Jacob Zuma has called on South Africans and foreign nationals to unite against crime.

Spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga says the president has ordered the Inter-Ministerial committee on Migration to look into the threats of violence.

09:54

This is the route the march will follow, as agreed upon by the Metro Police.

09:52

The group is moving past the High Court in Pretoria.

09:24 

A shop owned by a foreign national has just been looted

The shop was looted in WF Nkomo Street in Pretoria.

Maryke Vermaak spoke to the shop owner and a witness.

08:16

The South African Police Service says it has security plans in place for the anti-immigrant march in the Pretoria CBD on Friday.

According to a statement security forces have put measures in place to ensure that the march is peaceful.