Xenophobia in South Africa
Apr 16, 2015 15:03:53 GMT
Post by tod2 on Apr 16, 2015 15:03:53 GMT
Foreigners were driven into the night after sunset as all hell broke loose across Pietermaritzburg.
There was mayhem as thousands were evacuated from townships with hundreds more seeking refuge at police stations as they became targets of looting and violence, forcing them to clear their stores and homes.
Police sources described thousands of people left homeless and stranded on the roadside after they were forced from their homes. As many as 60 women and children were evacuated from a hostel and apartments in the city, while over 50 foreign owned shops were looted.
Police were not sure how to handle the situation but used police vehicles to ferry stranded people to police stations.
With dropping temperatures, a load-shedding black-out leaving parts of the city in darkness, foreigners found themselves shivering with nowhere to go.
Help was at hand with members of the S.A. Minority rights Equality Movement and the Pakistani Association of SA, handing out blankets and food to those stranded.
There was a peace march in Durban but reports say that without the Zulu king taking part it will not have a radical effect on the situation. I have not heard if he did attend or not.
A frequent customer of ours from Malawi(who employs over 20 locals), came to tell us he had re-opened his business today after yesterdays chaos.
Other news on the 'bush telegraph' reports that the Nigerians have threatened not to take these xenophobic attacks lying down. They are amassing guns and have said nobody is going to make them leave. This of course is a worrying factor as it promises shoot-outs and a very dangerous situation. We all know the Nigerians are not to be trifled with.
My daily venture into the lower end of our city where the bus rank is, was again uneventful but not only was the little hair shack closed but also several shops at the rank.
There was mayhem as thousands were evacuated from townships with hundreds more seeking refuge at police stations as they became targets of looting and violence, forcing them to clear their stores and homes.
Police sources described thousands of people left homeless and stranded on the roadside after they were forced from their homes. As many as 60 women and children were evacuated from a hostel and apartments in the city, while over 50 foreign owned shops were looted.
Police were not sure how to handle the situation but used police vehicles to ferry stranded people to police stations.
With dropping temperatures, a load-shedding black-out leaving parts of the city in darkness, foreigners found themselves shivering with nowhere to go.
Help was at hand with members of the S.A. Minority rights Equality Movement and the Pakistani Association of SA, handing out blankets and food to those stranded.
There was a peace march in Durban but reports say that without the Zulu king taking part it will not have a radical effect on the situation. I have not heard if he did attend or not.
A frequent customer of ours from Malawi(who employs over 20 locals), came to tell us he had re-opened his business today after yesterdays chaos.
Other news on the 'bush telegraph' reports that the Nigerians have threatened not to take these xenophobic attacks lying down. They are amassing guns and have said nobody is going to make them leave. This of course is a worrying factor as it promises shoot-outs and a very dangerous situation. We all know the Nigerians are not to be trifled with.
My daily venture into the lower end of our city where the bus rank is, was again uneventful but not only was the little hair shack closed but also several shops at the rank.
