Special courts for xenophobia

2008-05-26 15:06

Pretoria - The National Prosecuting Authority and the justice ministry met in Pretoria on Monday to decide how about 500 xenophobia suspects would be prosecuted.

"The objective is to have dedicated resources set aside to have special courts and court officials to enable us to process this as soon as possible," NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali told Sapa.

He said members of the prosecuting authority were locked in a meeting with the director general and other justice officials to discuss the prosecution of about 500 people arrested in recent xenophobic violence that left 50 people dead.

"We are not in a position to make details available at this stage as we are in the process of consulting with all the relevant stakeholders," Tlali said.

Gauteng police Director Govindsamy Mariemuthoo could not say how many of those arrested had already appeared in court.

"It is difficult to say because different people were arrested on different charges. Many of them have appeared in court already and were remanded."

The violence started in Alexandra, Johannesburg on May 12 and then spread to other provinces but quietened down toward the end of last week, leaving the government to deal with some 17 000 displaced foreign nationals.

- SAPA