Shops set ablaze, looted as xenophobic attacks spread in South AfricaBy
Faith Karimi and Diana Magnay, CNNUpdated 0305 GMT (1005 HKT) April 18,
2015Xenophobic attacks spread to Johannesburg02:51Story
highlightsAttacks against immigrant businesses started in DurbanThe
attacks have left six people deadJohannesburg (CNN)South African police
fired rubber bullets Friday to disperse crowds setting immigrant
businesses ablazeas attacks against foreigners spread to
Johannesburg.Chanting and singing, machete-armed residents burned down
shops owned by foreigners, including a Nigerian dealership in the
nation’s largest city.Immigrants carrying bricks accused police of not
doing enough to protect them as businesses smoldered.Six people
killedViolence targeting immigrant shops started recently in the port
city of Durban,where two foreigners and three South Africans were
killed. Residents have accused African immigrants of taking their jobs
and committing crimes. The unemployment rate in South Africa is 25%,
according to government figures.A sixth d€ath occurred Wednesday. The
body of a 58-year-old foreign national wasfound in Verulam town, where a
mob attacked the man at his home. He fled and died of his injuries near
his home, South African police said.At least 112 people have been
arrested throughout KwaZulu-Natal Province for various offenses related
to the violence, police said.Social and economic issuesPresident Jacob
Zuma said his government is addressing social and economic issues
brought up by citizens. He said immigrants contribute to the nation’s
economy while others bring scarce skills.“While some foreign nationals
have been arrested for various crimes, it is misleadingand wrong to
label or regard all foreign nationals as being involved in crime in the
country,” Zuma said.As the violence spread to other cities, terrified
immigrants sought a resolution. Others fled, taking refuge at police
stations in major cities.“They are using this as scapegoats,” said
Jean-Pierre Lukamba, an immigrant from the Democratic Republic of the
Congo.“Every day, migrants are living in this fire. It’s not just
attacks. It’s institutionalized xenophobia. The government must do
something. Those people aren’t just mad for no reason. They want
electricity, they want jobs, they want water.”‘They don’t understand the
history of Africa’Lukamba said he’s part of an organization trying to
negotiate between the two sides.“They don’t understand the history of
Africa; if they do, they would know each ofus, we are one,” he
said.Thousands fled to temporary shelters, withaid group Gift of the
Givers saying about 8,500 people are hiding in refugee centers or police
stations this week because of the violence. The number did not include
those who have moved in with friends or relatives.The aid group said it
has a facility in Johannesburg to help those who might needshelter.“We
are preparing aid packages for those who may journey onwards to their
home countries,” it said.Police ordered to work around the clockThe
violence spread from Durban to Johannesburg even though Zuma has
condemned the attacks and appealed for calm.“No amount of frustration or
anger can ever justify the attacks on foreign nationals and the looting
of their shops,” hesaid. “The attacks violate all the values that South
Africa embodies, especially the respect for human life.”Zuma said he
has ordered police to work around the clock to protect citizens and
immigrants, and arrest the perpetrators.In Mozambique, the South African
energy and chemical giant Sasol was temporarily returning about 340
South African nationals to South Africa “as a precautionary measure,”
Sasol spokesman Alex Anderson said.Mozambican employees of Sasol service
providers have voiced concern about reported violence against
Mozambicans andother foreign nationals in South Africa andprotested the
presence of South African employees in Mozambique.“We have had no cases
of violence at our sites and the situation remains calm,” Anderson said
in a statement.In the past, Johannesburg has been the epicenter of
anti-immigrant tensions.In 2008, dozens were killed in attacks in
thepoorest areas of Johannesburg. Most of thevictims were Zimbabweans
who had fled repression and dire economic circumstances. In those
attacks, police arrested more than 200 people on various charges,
including ra.pe, murder, robbery and theft.CNN’s Diana Magnay
contributed from Johannesburg, and Faith Karimi wrote and reported from
Atlanta. CNN’s Brent Swailscontributed to this
report.http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/17/africa/south-africa-xenophobia-attacks/index.html
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