Xenophobia: Military deployed
2008-05-22 15:38
Johannesburg - Hostel raids by the police and the military in Johannesburg on Thursday following xenophobic violence have netted 28 arrests, police said on Thursday.
Director Sally de Beer said the cordon-and-search operations were "aimed at restoring peace and stability in various areas of the province which have been plagued with violence over the past several days".
She said the men were not arrested in direct connection with the xenophobic violence that erupted in those areas, but further investigations and interrogation would reveal possible involvement.
"The joint operation was extremely successful and resulted in 28 arrests being effected, 150kg of dagga being seized and firearms, ammunition and suspected stolen property being recovered," said De Beer.
The operation was conducted jointly by the South African Police Service and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in the early hours of Thursday.
The assistance in terms of provision of certain resources in this particular operation was authorised by president Thabo Mbeki on Wednesday.
"The cordon-and-search operations were conducted at the Wolhulter and George Goch hostels in Jeppe and the Denver hostel in Cleveland between 01:00 and 07:00.
"Members of the SANDF from 21 South African Infantry Battalion were tasked with forming outer perimeter security rings while SAPS members entered the premises and carried out search, seizure and arrest duties," she said.
Other such joint ventures would "definitely" follow in the near future, De Beer said.
Earlier on Thursday, National Intelligence Agency director general Manala Manzini said that in the run-up to the 1994 democratic elections, "elements" that supported the apartheid regime had delivered weapons to hostels for use in attacking communities.
"We are beginning to see those movements taking place currently. Into hostels where people are beginning to organise and resuscitate some of those people that they have had contact with in the past.
"To provoke and encourage them to unleash violence. That we are beginning to pick up."
More than 40 people have been killed and 17 000 displaced in xenophobic violence that started in Alexandra on May 12.
- SAPA