'Xenophobia' fears in Ekurhuleni

2011-02-01 22:36

JOHANNESBURG - Police were on high alert following renewed threats against foreign shop owners at Ramaphosa informal settlement in Ekurhuleni, the local government and housing department said on Tuesday.

Shop owners were threatened by locals demanding they immediately shut down their businesses and leave the area, the department said.

"However, police have swiftly moved in to calm the situation."

MEC Humphrey Mmemezi called for calm and appealed to local leadership and the community to refrain from attacking foreign owned businesses.

"We would not tolerate a situation where people decide to take the law into their own hands," Mmemezi said.

"I appeal to all residents of Ramaphosa to refrain from any acts of violence and to use community structures to resolve matters which are of concern to them."

The department said it was closely monitoring the developments in the area, and were also engaging with the local stakeholders and leadership to resolve the matter.

Vicious xenophobic attacks broke out at Ramaphosa settlement near Reiger Park two years ago.

In 2008, 62 people were killed and 150 000 displaced in a wave of xenophobic attacks that started in Gauteng.

Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Neville Malila said late on Tuesday that everything was under control.

"There have been no incidents and everything is quiet, " he said, adding that normal policing in that area would resume.

- SAPA