SOUTH AFRICA: Police presence increased in hotspots of violence after deadly attacks against foreigners

Record ID: 455517

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Police presence increased in hotspots of violence after deadly attacks against foreigners
  • Date: 20th May 2008
  • Summary: INJURED MAN ON THE GROUND BEING ATTENDED TO
  • Embargoed: 4th June 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Police
  • Reuters ID: LVA634Y3I8TT84M58J35V0FJXR0
  • Story Text: South Africa's police and the ruling ANC party intensified efforts on Tuesday (May 20) to quell deadly violence against foreigners and a government minister said the unrest could damage the key tourism sector.
    At least 24 people have been killed in over a week of violent attacks on African migrant workers who are accused by many in South Africa's poor townships of stealing jobs and fuelling a wave of violent crime.

    "Me, myself I've got no problem, but I don't want these people here, I've no problem, I want these people to go back to their homes, because We've got no jobs because of them, we are struggling, I have plus minus five years staying here, but I've got no place" said one of the South African residents in Ramphosa settlement.
    Local media said two people were killed overnight.
    South Africa's tourism minister said the violence could hurt the sector, which contributes around 8 percent of Gross Domestic Product to Africa's biggest economy, employs a million people and attracted 8.4 million visitors last year.
    Thousands of foreigners have fled into refugee shelters since the violence began on May 11 in Alexandra township.
    Several foreigners have been burned to death, women raped and scores of shops and homes looted. More than 200 people have been arrested. Criminal gangs are believed to be involved in the violence.
    The Sowetan newspaper said a mob killed a construction company owner and burned down his house in Actonville, east of Johannesburg on Monday because they said he did not employ South Africans.
    The report could not immediately be confirmed.
    The ruling African National Congress said the situation was coming under control after it sent officials into townships to appeal for an end to the attacks.
    Police also increased their deployment to trouble spots.
    The unrest threatens to increase political instability at a time of electricity shortages, rising inflation and disaffection among the poor over President Thabo Mbeki's pro-business policies.
    Mbeki has faced strong criticism, especially from ANC left wingers, for not spreading the benefits of black rule to millions of poor people. South Africa, with a population of 50 million, is home to an estimated 5 million immigrants.
    Foreigners have been lured from poorer neighbours by work in mines, farms and homes and by one of the world's most liberal immigration and refugee policies. The biggest group -- an estimated 3 million -- are from Zimbabwe.
    They have fled economic collapse at home and the violent political standoff since disputed March 29 elections.
    Mbeki's critics say his softly, softly approach has done too little to end the crisis or stem the flow of migrants. Mbeki and ANC leader Jacob Zuma have called for an end to the attacks, which have dented South Africa's reputation for tolerance and threaten its hopes of luring an estimated half million foreign visitors to the 2010 soccer World Cup.
    The violence indicates rising anger among those who complain they have been left out by Mbeki's policies.
    ANC Treasurer General Mathews Phosa called at the weekend for an early election to end Mbeki's rule. The South African leader lost the ANC leadership to Zuma last year and has to step down in 2009. Zuma is the frontrunner to succeed him.
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