Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Sunday communities must not blame foreigners for their problems.

He is currently addressing complaints about foreigners from residents of Atteridgevillle in western Pretoria.

The residents in Atteridgeville said foreigners are stealing their jobs and their homes, and they have blamed them for a lack of service delivery.

They called on Minister Mthethwa to make sure officers arrest business owners who employ illegal immigrants and to use whatever force necessary to remover squatters from their homes.

The community has threatened to take the law into its own hands if they do not see immediate action from the police.

Mthethwa is at the podium, trying to calm the residents down. He said various government departments need to get involved to resolve their complaints.

Speaking only in Zulu, Mthethwa has reminded residents that violence against foreigners will not be tolerated, saying officers will use whatever force necessary to maintain law and order, regardless of the criminal’s nationality.

(Edited by Deshnee Subramany)