Residents of informal settlements in the Boland town of De Doorns said on Tuesday foreigners must leave their valley but they do not want to resort to violence.

Tensions flared between locals and immigrants at the Stofland informal settlement on the outskirts of the wine-lands town on Tuesday.

Locals accuse wine-farmers in the Hex River Valley of employing Zimbabweans as they are prepared to work for less than the minimum wage.

Police officials escorted approximately 2000 foreigners to the town's community hall where they spent the night.

"The foreigners are taking right of our mouth"

A Stofland resident said locals must be looked after first.

"The foreigners are taking right of our mouth (sic) because people here have been suffering for a long time. They do not have money and work," he said.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwean foreign national Arnold Sangarwe said he could not go back to his homeland.

"It pains me because in Zimbabwe it is tough and right now we have no place to go," said Sangaware.

Eyewitness News

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