Police in KwaZulu-Natal say at least 10 people have been arrested for allegedly breaking-in and looting from tuck shops in various parts of the province. The arrests were made in Marianhill, Mountain Rise, Melmoth and Sydenham.

The suspects face charges including house robbery, theft, intimidation and assaulting police officers.

Several are also accused of targeting tuck shops and homes belonging to foreign nationals.

SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda says it is unfortunate that some people used what he described as a genuine cause to commit crime.

“We had warned them that police will be out in full force to ensure that no lawlessness is tolerated. Ten of them will now face the wrath of the law. And we won’t make any example of them, we’ll just enforce the law and apply the law to the fullest, to tell them that dragging somebody’s shop, stealing is a crime. It doesn’t matter if you are doing it from which angle. As long as you commit crime, we deal with you accordingly, with the law.”

#sapsKZN [SAPS KZN MONITOR PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION]

The #SAPS SAPS, together with various Law enforcement agencies in KwaZulu-Natal, are monitoring a peaceful demonstration taking place in Durban. Police are maintaining law and order and ensuring that the thousands of… pic.twitter.com/1JWZfNrv3Z

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) June 30, 2026

Meanwhile, Netshiunda says police are pleased with how Tuesday’s demonstrations against undocumented foreign nationals unfolded across the province.

He says march organisers complied with the agreed routes and the planned operation was well executed.

“When you we were expecting numbers and we deployed accordingly in the early hours, we have maintained deployments until whatever time is needed. We are faithful though that those who were marching were marching responsibly and they did not deviate, they did not come with unnecessary demands on the road. For that we are thankful, also police officers they were told to be at their best behaviour and be professional that is why where they were deviations, we stopped them and moved accordingly.”

VIDEO | A look at March and March protests in KZN:

TIMELINE | History of immigrant marchers in South Africa:

Report by Gcinokuhle Malinga