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"Foreign-owned shops in South Africa's Eastern Cape shut their doors on Saturday as tensions over undocumented migration led to fears of possible unrest and attacks on migrant-run businesses. Footage filmed in KuGompo City shows empty shop entrances and residents walking past closed shops. "This is just because of the illegal immigrants, the people who are involved in human trafficking and drugs. They should go back, and for those who are legal, who have documents, they should be protected," a resident said. "Why are the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Labour not involved in this process? Why are people raiding properties by themselves? Even when they arrive at shops, and you show them your papers, they do not want to look at them. They simply tell you to leave your shop and close it down. They say foreign nationals are using us as a front in South Africa," added a second. The closures come amid a wider rise in anti-migrant tensions across South Africa, where concerns over undocumented migration, crime allegations and pressure on local businesses led to protests. In KuGompo City, the row has also overlapped with questions over commercial leases, alleged subletting and the occupation of properties linked to the Eastern Cape Development Corporation. ECDC spokesperson Sbusiso Ralarala said the agency was aware of alleged subletting at some properties and would deal with the matter 'decisively,' adding that rent should be collected directly by ECDC. "People who are there, as far as we are concerned, are legitimate. But if it can be proven that they are not, it is not for us, but for Home Affairs to deal with these people," he said. The closures came after a week of intensified inspections ordered by the Presidency and the Department of Labour. Local stakeholders said concerns over documentation, tenancy arrangements and alleged subletting had been raised with authorities. ECDC has been involved throughout 2025 and into 2026 in efforts to reclaim what it describes as 'illegally occupied' commercial properties as part of wider property verification drives. Officials said some businesses may be operating under disputed lease arrangements, while others have called for proper legal processes to be followed. ECDC has said alleged subletting will be investigated and addressed where confirmed."
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