March and March
Image: Pedro Mapelo
While anti-immigration marches across parts of Cape Town remained largely under control on Monday, authorities were forced to respond to isolated incidents of unrest, including an attempted looting spree in Delft that left shop owners fearing for their safety.
The City of Cape Town said marchers who had gathered outside the Provincial Legislature earlier in the day had begun dispersing peacefully under the watch of law enforcement agencies.
"The marchers who gathered outside the Provincial Legislature earlier today have started moving out of the area. Services continue to monitor the group to ensure that they disperse peacefully," the City said.
A second group also gathered outside St George's Cathedral in the Cape Town CBD, where authorities continued to monitor the situation.
Earlier in the day, two groups of demonstrators in Kraaifontein converged on the local police station to hand over a memorandum to SAPS. However, after the memorandum was delivered and the crowd began dispersing, sections of the group turned riotous.
The City said a stun grenade was discharged by police to restore order.
Authorities also responded to incidents in Delft, where opportunistic criminality overshadowed the day's protests.
The City confirmed that a group looted a shop along Main Road in Delft and said it was awaiting further information from SAPS regarding arrests linked to the incident.
Residents and community members on the scene described a tense atmosphere as several businesses hurriedly shut their doors after reports of attempted looting spread through the area during the afternoon.
According to witnesses, what unfolded appeared to be less about organised protest and more about opportunistic criminal behaviour.
"There were gangsters coming over with firearms, chancers and opportunistic criminals trying to take advantage of the situation," one community member said.
A community activist described the area as volatile and explained that one group attempted to gain access to a business but failed after finding the premises securely locked.
The activist said some individuals were seen climbing onto the roof in an attempt to force entry before being driven away.
The activist praised the strong visibility of SAPS officers and other law enforcement agencies, saying their rapid response prevented the situation from escalating further.
"The police visibility today was excellent. They acted quickly and that made a huge difference," the activist said.
She however urged parents to keep an eye out on their children who find themselves in the middle of the attempted looting.
The attempted looting left many local business owners shaken.
Several shopkeepers closed their businesses for the remainder of the day and remained inside, fearing they could become targets.
"It's heartbreaking. These shop owners are hiding like criminals today, when in fact they are the same people who help this community every single day. They often assist families who don't have money for food or groceries. It's simply not fair on them," a community member added.
Despite the isolated incidents, the City said no other major disruptions had been reported across Cape Town.
Officials urged residents to remain calm and to report only first-hand incidents or credible threats to the City's Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700.
The City also appealed to the public to provide accurate locations and detailed information when reporting incidents to ensure emergency resources could be deployed as quickly and effectively as possible.
Law enforcement agencies remain deployed across Cape Town as authorities continue monitoring any further developments linked to Monday's demonstrations.