Moz citizens cross border on foot
2008-05-26 15:20
Nelspruit - Close to 40 000 people crossed the Lebombo border post into Mozambique this past week to escape from the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
According to border gate co-ordinator on the South African side of the border, Mbongiseni Msongweni, many were crossing on foot.
"At first, they were using buses and taxis, but we have now noticed that there are more pedestrians than cars," he said on Monday.
Msongweni, who worked for the Border Control Operational Co-ordinating Committee, said 39 223 people crossed the border into Mozambique between Monday, May 19 and Monday, May 26.
He said about 23 000 people left Mozambique for South Africa during the same period.
65 people arrested
The Mozambican press had labelled the attacks on their fellow Mozambicans as "terrorism" and reported that panicky South African tourists were leaving Mozambican in fear of retaliation from locals.
One Mozambican newspaper, Savan, referred to former South African political refugees who sought shelter in Mozambique during apartheid as "ingrates".
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Superintendent Sibongile Nkosi said on Monday that 65 people had been arrested in the province so far for burning shops and cars belonging to foreign people.
She said that in the latest attack, three people were arrested in Emalahleni (formerly Witbank) for attacking foreigners. In one incident, one Mozambican was killed and five others injured.
"All the suspects have been charged with arson, public violence and theft," she said.
Nkosi said that police were on standby at all border gates in the province, which bordered Mozambique and Swaziland, to ensure that foreigners who were fleeing from the xenophobia violence, were able to do so safely.
In the meantime, the Mozambican government had set up temporary accommodation centres for returnees at Beluluane, 30km outside Maputo.