What culminated into the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa?
Last Monday, there was a fight between some foreigners suspected to be Tanzanians and taxi drivers which led to the death of one taxi driver. So, on Tuesday, the taxi drivers went on a mass protest in the morning and it degenerated into violence. Some criminal elements joined them and they started looting and burning houses, business and shops belonging to foreign nationals in the Pretoria Central Business District on Lilian Ngoyi Street. The police were able to contain the situation but it spread to other parts and that is what we are still battling with till now.
Was there any loss of lives or people injured in the attacks?
We cannot quantify or ascertain how many have been injured for now. But according to the information at our disposal, only three people have been killed and they were killed during the fire that broke out yesterday (Sunday) morning in Jeppestown, Johannesburg. Their identities have not been revealed by the police and many people were injured but we cannot say, ‘this is the number of people that have been injured.” Read more