Attacks spread in Cape Town
2008-05-23 16:34
Cape Town - Looting, violence and tension towards foreigners were spreading throughout the Western Cape on Friday, according to police.
"We've had reports at Milnerton, Khayelitsha, Strand and Nyanga," said Superintendent Andre Traut.
He stressed that no lives had been threatened at this stage. "It's just the criminal element looting the foreigners."
Somali community spokesperson, Mohamed Jana said that he was waiting along with 500 other Somalis on the main road in Bellville. "They are homeless and bankrupt," he said. "We are waiting for a response from the City."
They had fled from Strand - which has a community of about 250 Somalis - Bellville and other areas. Their shops had been looted and their money taken, according to Jana.
The City of Cape Town disaster risk management was taking people to community halls on Friday.
Traut said the situation was volatile and warned of "the possible eruption of violence".
He confirmed that police had been deployed to various hot spots all over the Western Cape.
About 500 foreigners were taken to Killarney Racetrack on Thursday night after an outbreak of violence in Du Noon, near Milnerton. Six people were injured.
- News24