'Tensions' in Gauteng township

2010-07-20 08:08

Johannesburg - Gauteng police could not confirm reports on Tuesday morning that foreign nationals had been attacked at Kya Sands, north of Johannesburg, saying only there were "tensions" in the township.

"From yesterday [Monday], there was some stand-off with regards to tensions there," said Brigadier Govindsamy Mariemuthoo.

"We have a heavy police presence there," he added.

Several radio stations reported on Tuesday that four foreign nationals, from Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and one South African had been attacked in overnight clashes.

A Talk Radio 702 journalist reported seeing two men escorted from the informal settlement with deep cuts to their heads while a woman said she was kicked in the chest.

Another man was bleeding from a wound to the head.

'They started hitting me'

"I was just sitting at my home and a group of people just came and they asked me where I come from and before I could answer they started hitting me," the man told the radio station.

But Mariemuthoo said on Tuesday morning that he was still gathering details of what had exactly happened and ended the phone call when asked if foreign nationals were injured.

He could only confirm "allegations of looting".

"There were people claiming they were looted and they were asked to open cases."

Mariemuthoo said he would have more information later in the day.

The Zimbabwean government said on Monday it had been forced to set up temporary shelters for Zimbabweans leaving South Africa following threats of attacks on foreign nationals.

A wave of xenophobic mob attacks hit South Africa two years ago. More than 60 people were killed and thousands displaced.

- SAPA