Sunnyside latest: Foreign nationals vow to “kill” protesters [video]

Tensions between protesters and foreign nationals are palpable in Sunnyside, Pretoria, where taxi drivers have held what they call an anti-drug demonstration.

What is happening in Sunnyside, Pretoria?

On the second day of the protest action led by taxi drivers, the activity moved away from Pretoria CBD to Sunnyside. Law enforcement officers, for the most part, have been successful in preventing what happened the day before.

However, from the footage we have seen (see embedded videos below), there seems to have been a standoff between foreign nationals and protesters.

In the clip, foreign nationals, huddled on the side of the road, can be heard making threats at the protesting taxi drivers.

“Let them come one-on-one. We [will] finish them one-on-one. These are the Nigerians, we are here. They are down there. We are waiting for them. Let them come. The police [are] telling us to have patience. They are making peace but we can’t accept this nonsense… Let them come face us here one-on-one. We will kill them!” the foreign national screams as he continues to capture footage of the standoff.

What fuelled the protests in Pretoria?

On Wednesday, things got out of hand, after rioters raided foreign-owned shops. Scores of angry rioters were seen looting the stores and torching several others, as police tried to get a grip of the mayhem that had encapsulated the capital.

This, according to taxi drivers was a direct response to the murder of a fellow driver, known only as Jabu, who is believed to have been killed by foreign nationals.

However, protesting taxi drivers have since distanced themselves from the violence that we saw on Wednesday, claiming that there was a group, not associated with their cause, that took advantage of the situation.

Sunnyside traffic updates: Road closures

From the information that has been circulating on social media, things are pretty tense in Sunnyside, Pretoria. motorists and commuters alike have been warned to refrain from the area.

Furthermore, since this afternoon, road closures were enforced on:

• Cilliers Street; and
• Robert Sobukwe Street

You can watch the videos embedded below of the situation in Sunnyside at the time of publishing this article.

Watch: Foreign nationals threaten to “kill” protesters

#Pretoriashutdown listen to this! pic.twitter.com/lMQMoYco3j

— Mushle1 (@mushle1) August 29, 2019

#Sunnyside #pretoriacbd

Police climbing flats to check drugs.. well done taxi drivers. From next week I'm packing my car and start using a taxi.

Please open a political party I think you guys would do a better job. pic.twitter.com/DUzzld4QEi

— Matimba Liffty Bvuma (@bvumaml) August 29, 2019

National defense forces aka taxi association shutting down foreign owned businesses in Sunnyside #Pretoriashutdown #Sunnyside pic.twitter.com/MuVHA0tMBU

— Ndumeliso maanda (@mindlos_mphephu) August 29, 2019