ANC to meet over xenophobia

2008-05-20 14:06

Johannesburg - The African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng has expressed concern that hostels appeared to be "launching pads" for the xenophobic violence in various areas of the province, it said ahead of a meeting to discuss the unrest on Tuesday.

Gauteng ANC spokesperson Nkenke Kekana said the provincial leadership of the ruling party would receive reports from their branches and members on the ground on this issue at the meeting.

Kekana said there had to be a "hidden hand" aiming to destabilise communities in the province, which is southern Africa's economic hub.

The manner in which criminals were taking advantage of the situation would also be discussed, he said.

"(There are) a lot of criminals hiding behind the mobs... They fuel emotions around immigrants and then take advantage of the situation," he said.

He charged that while the party was not apportioning blame to any particular group, the feedback from its branches and members would shed light on what sparked the violent outbreak.

Shacks set alight

Meanwhile, Gauteng police person Director Govindsamy Mariemuthoo maintained on Tuesday that 22 deaths had so far been confirmed.

Earlier on Tuesday, a death was confirmed in Boksburg at the Joe Slovo informal settlement.

Spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the violence began on Monday night when foreigners were kicked out of their shacks and attacked.

The shacks were then set alight.

"Hundreds of foreigners are now housed at the local community centre. The number is rapidly escalating and we might have to look for another shelter."

They have been provided with food, blankets, healthcare and security.

Dlamini said another area hit by attacks was the Gugulethu Everest informal settlement in Springs.

"People were assaulted there - yet it was not as bad as the other areas. They ran away to the Springs police station."

Mariemuthoo said police had beefed up their numbers to deal with the rising tide of violence by calling in officers from their head office and from other provinces.

Wave of xenophobic violence

The National Intervention Unit, with its specially trained members, have also been deployed on the ground.

Helicopters were being used in hotspots, as in Ramaphosa on the East Rand where people have been burned to death in the wave of xenophobic violence which erupted in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, last Sunday.

Aside from the brutality of the attacks, the crisis has displaced hundreds of foreigners causing them to run for cover at police stations, churches and shelters - many having left their belongings behind, seeking safety with nothing but the cloths on their backs.

Mariemuthoo said about 450 people flocked to the Kliptown police station to seek safety and more than 150 sought the protection of the police at the Duduza police station on Tuesday.

- SAPA