Port Elizabeth police are evacuating foreign shop owners in the Booysens Park

Port Elizabeth police are evacuating foreign shop owners in the Booysens Park area, in the city’s Northern Suburbs, whose businesses were looted this morning, reports Algoa FM.

The station also said, police units had been deployed for maximum manpower in the area to meet demand for greater police visibility in the area, turned ugly.

Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Marinda Mills, says after residents marched to the Bethelsdorp police station some of the protestors began targeting foreign owned spaza shops.

She says early reports indicated that some shops had been set alight.

The drama unfolded early on Tuesday morning when a large group of people began burning tyres and stoning cars in Booysens Park.

Mills says they marched to the Bethelsdorp police station where they were addressed by the station commissioner.

Meanwhile, the situation in Sterkspruit was tense on Tuesday after protests flared up again.

Police Spokesperson, Colonel Sibongile Soci, says schools and businesses are closed today and police are monitoring the situation.

Community members have been protesting since last year over various issues.

Taxi drivers say the protests affect its business negatively.

Seven people were arrested on Monday on charges of public violence and will appear in court soon.