Police spokesperson, Sabata Mokgwabone, told OFM News the 12 were arrested on Sunday, following a clash between taxi drivers and foreign nationals in Pienaarsdorp. 

Mokgwabone says various properties, thought to be inhabited by Nigerian nationals, were set alight during the clashes. Chaos broke out, allegedly as taxi drivers believe one of their colleagues was killed by a foreign national. 

OFM News previously reported two people died during the dispute. He said the situation is calm, and police are still closely monitoring the situation. A group of people, suspected to be taxi drivers, were seen setting alight hawkers stalls at a taxi rank.

Monday people thought to be taxi drivers went on the rampage burning and destroying taverns and businesses. What started out as a feud between taxi drivers and Nigerian nationalists ballooned to include all foreign nationals, and their shops are also targeted. A representative from the Nigerian Union Klerksdorp, Bello Isaiah, told OFM News the situation is horrific, and he fears for his fellow countrymen’s lives. 

Violence erupted on Sunday after one of the local taxi drivers from Klerksdorp was allegedly killed by a group of Nigerian nationals and in retaliation one foreign national was killed by taxi drivers.

OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane