The process of relocating residents out of the Schubart Park flats in central Pretoria continued on Sunday after the flats were declared unsafe, the city of Tshwane said.
Processing of registrations for the move continued until late on Saturday, said spokesperson Peter de Necker.
About 200 of 800 residents had registered for alternative accommodation by Saturday.
“We think some of those who are reluctant to register may be illegal immigrants … which makes it difficult in terms of the law,” he said.
Many had arranged their own accommodation.
De Necker said only one foreigner had come forward to register and could not provide an official passport document.
Riots
Schubart Park residents began protesting on Wednesday claiming they had been without water and electricity for two weeks.
Tyres were burnt inside the building, residents threw bricks and bottles onto the street and a mobile toilet and car were set alight.
Police arrested 79 people for public violence.
The city began relocating residents to shelters in Salvokop and Saulsville, west of Pretoria, on Friday.
Women with children were being given priority.
The relocation sparked a protest by hundreds of angry Saulsville residents.
“We think the Saulsville residents are concerned about an influx of illegal immigrants into their area,” De Necker said.
Tradition of violence
In July 2008, four adults and a toddler died in a fire in a fire at the neighbouring Kruger Park flats.
The blaze was started in protest against evictions from Schubart Park by a private security company.
In November 2008, the municipality announced it would renovate the block of flats as they were a health and safety hazard.
On Christmas day that year, 50 people were arrested when protests, also over water and electricity cuts, turned violent at the building. — Sapa