A group of enraged local residents launched a violent attack against Nigerian nationals in Sivewright Street – also known as Little Nigeria, the drug and prostitution hub of Krugersdorp.
According to Krugersdorp SAPS spokesperson Tshepiso Mashale the attack followed after a Nigerian national was arrested for the murder of a South African on Saturday (31 May). The looting of residences and stone throwing continued until yesterday 2 June.
On Monday police were deployed to stop the attacks, but residents fear a further spike in violence.
Nigerians and South Africans have been living alongside each other in Sivewright Street for years and little violence between the groups was reported in the past.
A resident who cannot be identified because she fears for her life told the news that she has been living there for 27 years and that the violence was the first of its kind she had witnessed.
Some labelled the attack as xenophobic while others believe that South African residents are lashing out because they are tired of crime and violence in the area.
By Tuesday (3 June) calm seems to have set in but according to Mashale police officers will continue to negotiate with South African citizens to keep the peace.
