Townships tense after attacks
2008-05-15 09:06
Johannesburg - Alexandra and Diepsloot were tense, but quiet on Thursday morning in the wake of suspected xenophobic attacks that have killed at least three people since the weekend, police said.
Captain Louise Reed said one man was injured when an angry mob shot him in the head in Diepsloot on Wednesday evening.
"The situation in Diepsloot is tense. In what we suspect was xenophobic attacks, a mob shot a man, threw stones at the police and looted spaza shops," Reed said.
She could not confirm an SABC report that two people were killed in Diepsloot or that the violence started when foreigners fleeing Alexandra township arrived in taxis in Diepsloot.
Diepsloot residents blocked the entrance into the township outside Krugersdorp on the West Rand, burning tyres and placing objects in the road.
A heavy police presence is monitoring the situation.
Over 50 arrested in Alex
Police director Govindsamy Mariemuthoo said the Alexandra township was calm on Wednesday night. The last incident happened at 20:00 when shots were fired at the police and the police dispersed a crowd with rubber bullets.
Three people have been killed in Alexandra since suspected xenophobic attacks started on Sunday evening and dozens have been injured.
The police have arrested more than 50 people for various crimes, including rape, murder and robbery.
- SAPA