Xenophobic protests amid looting hits South Africa

Anti-foreigner attacks occured in South Africa’s Dunoon township in Cape Town on Sunday, April 17.

Locals looted shops owned by foreigners, prompting people to flee the area.

Dunoon protesters turn on foreign nationals https://t.co/a6oNlGt2Ye pic.twitter.com/8oFzwIWHQt— Eyewitness News (@ewnupdates) April 18, 2016

According to media reports, some protesters blocked roads for most of Monday morning preventing residents from going to work and school.

Local law enforcement officers blocked some roads while rail and bus services were briefly disrupted.

While the situation later calmed down, security officers were seen still seen patrolling the area.

The attacks seem to have stemmed from a protest that occured earlier this month when locals took to the streets over perceived lack of services in the area.

This is not the first time that xenophobic violence has occurred in Africa’s most developed economy.

In October 2015, at least 500 people of foreign nationality fled their homes in Grahamstown Eastern Cape after a surge of xenophobic attacks in the area.

South African’s targeted foreigners also in Durban, Kwa Zulu -Natal province accusing the of stealing jobs and opportunities in which about five people were killed and thousands displaced.