Published by the government of Zimbabwe
16 May 2008
Harare — The Zimbabwean Embassy in South Africa yesterday moved in to assist its nationals displaced in attacks on foreigners in South Africa as the attacks spread to the Diepsloot area in Johannesburg.
As news of the death of two more people and the displacement of hundreds others filtered through South Africa, Zimbabweans who were displaced by the violence, which started in Alexandra and Kew townships on Sunday, were given temporary shelter while staff from the embassy screened and assisted the victims.
Zimbabwe Embassy consular-general Mr Chris Mapanga said in a telephone interview from Johannesburg yesterday that there were still incidents of xenophobic attacks being reported. He said some foreigners were still seeking protection from the police after being attacked. His comments come amid reports that three teenagers, including a 14-year-old boy, were shot and stabbed when violence flared up again in Alexandra on Tuesday night.
"Temporary accommodation has been arranged for the victims and we are working hand in hand with the authorities to assist them. The situation is now relatively under control, although we are still in a state of flux because it's quiet during the day but violence flares up at night," said Mr Mapanga. "We are working round the clock to ensure the safety of our citizens because that's our priority. The police force is out in full force trying to contain the situation." Mr Mapanga said a substantial number of Zimbabweans were affected by the violence, although he could not give the exact figure because consular officials were still screening the victims to identify bona fide citizens.
He, however, said the mobsters targeted nationals from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi. "There was a flare-up in Diepsloot, which is not far away from Alex (Alexandra), about 20 kilometres away. We understand that two people were killed but we do not know their nationality as yet. It takes a bit of time to establish the identity of a deceased person.
"In Alex, it was a little bit quiet although there were some skirmishes. It was certainly calmer than the previous night," he said. Mr Mapanga said the xenophobic attacks had been roundly condemned in South Africa. "The (South African) government, civil society and human rights organisations and former South African president Mr Nelson Mandela have condemned the attacks. What happened was very unfortunate," he said.
More and more people, including African National Congress leader Mr Jacob Zuma and Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, have denounced the violence. According to an online news website, news24.com, three teenagers, among them the 14-year-old boy, were shot and stabbed as violence flared up again in Alexandra on Tuesday night.
Johannesburg police spokesperson Constable Neria Malefetse said the police arrested five more people, bringing the total number of arrests related to the xenophobic attacks to 66. "There was a crowd that started the violence again," said Cst Malefetse. "A 17-year-old was shot and a 14-year-old boy was stabbed. Both were admitted to hospital. A 16-year-old woman was grazed by a bullet but she has since been discharged."
Police were expecting to receive more reports of attacks and injuries from Tuesday night during the course of yesterday.
The chief executive of Alexandra Clinic, Mr Abel Mangolele, said the clinic had treated 58 patients who were victims of these attacks between Sunday night and Monday morning, another 56 patients on Monday, and 39 patients from Monday night to Tuesday morning.
He said the tiny clinic did not have the capacity to treat many patients should the violence persist.
More serious cases were referred to hospitals in Edenvale and Johannesburg.
More than 1 000 people have been displaced since the xenophobic attacks began on Sunday evening. The attacks started after a meeting of about 200 Alexandra residents, which resolved to kick out all foreigners, accusing them of depriving them of jobs and fuelling crime in the townships.
The residents became violent after the foreigners ignored the ultimatum.
Many non-governmental organisations and humanitarian organisations such as the Red Cross Society and Doctors Without Borders have been assisting the displaced people with food, tents and medicine.
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