An anti-immigrant march in Durban descended into violence, with shops looted, vehicles torched and several people injured, including a man reportedly shot.

At least one person was rushed to hospital after reportedly being shot near Dr Pixley KaSeme Street in the Durban city centre at 4pm on Thursday, 8 October 2026, after hundreds of people, including March and March members and affiliated groups, rampaged through Durban targeting people they suspected of being immigrants.

GroundUp saw dozens of stores vandalised, some looted.

GroundUp is aware of at least two other people who were assaulted and injured. Several vehicles were set alight and shops were looted when the chaos erupted. The condition of the person reportedly shot is yet to be confirmed.

KZN SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda told GroundUp police were not yet aware of the shooting, but would issue a statement later. He said one protester had been assaulted.

GroundUp later met an immigrant man who was bleeding after being hit on the head.

Netshiunda said police were still gathering reports of incidents that happened during the march. Asked why SAPS was not better prepared for the action, he said, "Unplanned marches create a situation like this where police were policing one march and another one started where there was violence. We were stretched."

He said police would remain in the area...