Law enforcement authorities have intensified patrols around tuckshops in Ladysmith following a series of suspected arson attacks and other incidents targeting businesses in Ezakheni.
Confirming the police response to Newcastillian News, uThukela District SAPS spokesperson Warrant Officer Basheer Khan said Ladysmith detectives are investigating several cases of arson, together with one case of malicious injury to property.
Choose your BOOST. Pay online. Get seen.
Starting from just R350. Tap the advert
No arrests have been made at this stage. Khan was also unable to confirm the total number of arson cases under investigation.
However, police patrols have been increased in areas where tuckshops are situated as authorities attempt to prevent further attacks and protect informal traders.
The police response follows incidents reported at the Crossing Rank in Ezakheni KwaMthanti, as well as cases in which commercial containers were allegedly set alight near the railway bridge.
According to the Alfred Duma Local Municipality’s Communications Unit, attempts were also made to loot businesses in Ezakheni Sections C2 and A. However, these attempts were unsuccessful.
An official source previously confirmed to Newcastillian News that the businesses targeted during the incidents were either foreign-owned or employed foreign nationals.
The Municipality has condemned the violence and warned that those responsible could face criminal prosecution.
“The burning of tuckshops and any form of looting or vandalism constitute criminal offences and will not be tolerated. Law enforcement agencies have been alerted and will deal decisively with anyone found to be involved in such activities,” stated the Communications Unit.
The warning was also published through the Alfred Duma Local Municipality’s official communication channels.
Alongside the increased police presence, authorities have begun engaging communities in Ladysmith, Bergville and Estcourt in an effort to ease tensions and reinforce lawful conduct.
Khan confirmed that three public engagements have been conducted jointly by the uThukela District SAPS and the Alfred Duma Local Municipality. One of these engagements was held specifically with foreign nationals and included information concerning their rights.
These local interventions are unfolding amid continuing national protest activity concerning undocumented immigration.
The March and March movement, which helped lead nationwide demonstrations on 30 June 2026, has announced plans for an extended campaign involving protests, pickets and other activities.
According to East Coast Radio, the movement intends to continue protesting every Thursday as part of a three-month campaign calling for stricter enforcement of immigration legislation.
The movement has described its activities as peaceful and directed at undocumented immigration rather than foreign nationals generally. However, earlier nationwide demonstrations were accompanied by isolated incidents of violence, looting and attacks on foreign-owned businesses.
Figures released by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure following the 30 June demonstrations showed that 120 marches took place across South Africa. Of these, 108 were peaceful, while 12 required police intervention.
More than 900 people were arrested for offences that included immigration violations, public violence, robbery and harbouring undocumented migrants, according to Reuters reporting carried by Business Day.
Against this national context and the recent incidents in Ezakheni, the Alfred Duma Local Municipality has again appealed for calm.
“Residents are urged to refrain from any form of vandalism, destruction of property, or criminal behaviour. We further call upon all members of the community to remain calm, exercise restraint, and avoid taking the law into their own hands. The Municipality urges residents to work together to maintain peace, stability, and respect for the rule of law,” emphasised the Communications Unit.
Residents have been asked to report incidents of arson, looting or vandalism, as well as suspicious activity, to the Municipality’s 24-hour emergency line on 036 637 2231.
“Community cooperation is critical in assisting law enforcement authorities to prevent further criminal acts and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice,” stressed the Communications Unit.
Police investigations into the Ezakheni incidents remain ongoing. The precise number of businesses damaged, the total number of cases opened and the identities of those responsible have yet to be confirmed.
Newcastillian News will continue following the investigations and events as they unfold.
What are your thoughts on all of this? Let us know below.
Be sure to read: Rhino Poachers Strike Ladysmith Area Reserve as Adult Male Is Killed for Its Horn
