Six shops owned by foreign nationals were looted in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, on Friday morning, May 29, 2026, police have confirmed.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the incident occurred in response to a legal dispute involving Estcourt Mayor Mduduzi Myeza. Myeza had issued undocumented foreign business owners a 21-day ultimatum to vacate the town, with the deadline expiring on Wednesday, May 27. The affected traders approached the courts on Monday, May 26 to challenge the directive.
Netshiunda confirmed that “six shops owned by foreign nationals” were looted, but said calm had been restored in the area and no injuries were reported. “Police are assessing the situation for further investigations and police visibility will be maintained in the area,” he said.
A meeting was scheduled for Friday afternoon between the mayor’s office, police officials, and building owners to address tensions between local residents, foreign nationals, and authorities.
The looting follows a series of anti-immigration protests across major South African cities in April and May 2026, during which foreign-owned businesses in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal reported vandalism and theft.
