Scores arrested amid xenophobic tensions

According to a statement by the South African Police Service, at least 27 undocumented foreign nationals have also been arrested and will be deported.

Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt. Gen. Deliwe de Lange, says the 27 of the foreign nationals were undocumented, while one of them was caught in possession of an illegal firearm. 

"Police have noted the criminality and will act harshly against anyone found to have been involved in organised criminal acts such as inciting violence, business robberies, looting, arson, public violence, possession of or dealing in drugs, and prostitution."

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She also urged South Africans as well as foreign nationals not to incite members of the public to commit acts of violence and taking the law into their own hands.

"Police have already arrested a number of suspects for crimes ranging from business robbery to possession of illegal firearms in Soshanguve, Mabopane, Garankuwa and Rietgat," De Lange says.

She adds that police will continue to monitor the areas closely when members of the Mamelodi Concerned Residents take to the streets in the Pretoria CBD.

Members of the organisation will be marching to the departments of Labour, Home Affairs as well as the Police headquarters to handover a memorandum of grievances.

The organisation's Makgoka Lekganyane believes foreign nationals are taking jobs that belong to South Africans.