This archive report was first published on 3 September 2019.
Published on September 3, 2019, a day after a building in Johannesburg's Central Business District caught fire and collapsed, killing at least three people.
Police in Johannesburg have arrested at least 41 people following Monday's unrest, which has been deemed as xenophobic attacks on foreigners.
According to eyewitnesses, hundreds of people marched through the Central Business District, looting and torching cars, with targeted shops reported to be owned by foreign nationals.
Police were forced to use tear gas and fire rubber bullets in an attempt to restore calm.
South Africa's police minister, Bheki Cele, termed the violence as 'criminality rather than xenophobia', stating that 'nothing has sparked any form of conflict between the South Africans and foreign nationals.'
However, Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama has lashed out at South African authorities for allegedly failing to protect Nigerian nationals in Johannesburg.
'Received sickening and depressing news of continued burning and looting of Nigerian shops and premises in #SouthAfrica by mindless criminals with ineffective police protection. Enough is enough. We will take definitive measures,' said Onyeama.
