Xenophobia plagues Soshanguve
2008-01-07 19:38
Johanneburg - A meeting between Soshanguve's ward councillor, police and members of the community was held on Monday in an attempt to find a solution to the recent acts of violence and intimidation allegedly directed towards immigrants.
The outcome of the meeting stipulated that police would be deployed to the township to monitor the situation, said Councillor Dikeledi Lehobye.
"People should refrain from taking the law into their own hands. Criminal activities should be reported to the police," said Lehobye.
Lehobye said destruction of property and criminal activities was not going to be tolerated.
"We appeal to residents to remain calm and to assist the police with their investigations," said Lehobye.
Seventeen people were released on warning on Monday after they torched a fellow resident's shack in Soshanguve south on Sunday afternoon.
"Preliminary investigations showed that they could not be linked to the incident," said Captain Lucas Sithole.
Residents burned three shacks on Saturday belonging to Mozambican and Zimbabwean nationals living in the area.
Sithole said the residents blamed the foreign nationals for crimes committed in Soshanguve township.
- SAPA