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South Africa police arrest 17 over xenophobic attacks

Saturday, 11 April 2015 7:32 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 11 April 2015 7:32 AM ]

Police officers escort demonstrators during an anti-xenophobia march outside the City Hall of Durban, South Africa, on April 8, 2015. © AFP

South African police have arrested over a dozen people following a wave of xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in the eastern coastal city of Durban.

Durban authorities detained Friday 17 people in the wake of numerous attacks against foreigner in recent days in the country’s third largest city.

The attacks came following alleged comments by Goodwill Zwelithini, the king of the Zulu ethnic group in South Africa, who called on immigrants to “pack their bags and leave” the country in late March.

King Zwelithini later said his comments were mistranslated and that he was talking “only about those who don’t have papers and documentation in South Africa.”

According to police at least three foreign nationals have been killed in the violence that erupted in Durban following King Zwelithini’s statements. A number of additional bodies have also been found, but it is unclear if the deceased are South Africans or not.

Several shops owned by foreign nationals have also been looted by local residents and more than 1,000 immigrants have fled their homes in fear of their lives.

The mostly African immigrants have sought shelter at police stations and tents as angry locals have vowed to push them out. Impoverished residents of Durban accuse foreigners of taking their jobs.

Foreign nationals hold a placard during an anti-xenophobia march outside the City Hall of Durban, South Africa, on April 8, 2015. © AFP

This is while President Jacob Zuma’s son, Edward, has also made similar statements against immigrants, many of whom have been victims of violence and intimidation.

Early this year, foreign shopkeepers in and around Soweto, an urban area of South Africa’s largest city of Johannesburg, were forced to vacate their premises after similar violence and looting broke out.

In 2008, xenophobic violence killed 62 people in Johannesburg townships.

Since the end of apartheid in 1994, millions of African immigrants seeking jobs and sanctuary have poured into South Africa. However, they have become scapegoats for many of the country’s social problems, including a high rate of unemployment, a shortage of housing and one of the worst levels of crime in the world.

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