Minister calls for calm in Alex

2008-05-15 15:29

Johannesburg - Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula visited Alexandra north of Johannesburg on Thursday to appeal for calm following xenophobic clashes there this week.

Mapisa-Nqakula immediately went into a meeting with local leaders and police management, accompanied by her deputy Malusi Gigaba and Deputy Safety and Security Minister Susan Shabangu.

Alexandra residents attacked some foreign nationals, forcing them out of their houses while accusing them of crime and taking their jobs.

Their belongings were also stolen.

Sergio Bila, 22, from Mozambique said his computer and furniture were stolen on Tuesday night when he was attacked. He was hit with an iron rod on his head and on his right arm.

"If they do not want us here they should not allow us to gain entry at the border gates - they should close the gates and we will not come here," he said.

Bila said he had no intention of returning to Mozambique but would head to Rustenburg to look for employment on the mines.

Alexandra was calm on Thursday, although many streets were still strewn with debris after the clashes.

At the police station tents have been erected to provide shelter for displaced foreigners.

Some were playing card games, others doing laundry or queuing up for breakfast.

They were reluctant to speak to locals, saying they did not trust them.

- SAPA