Zimbabweans killed in SA attacks

                                                      Staff reporter

Xenophobic attacks on Zimbabweans and other foreigners are on the increase in South Africa as locals vent their frustrations over unemployment, crime and a host of other problems facing the continent’s biggest economy.

At least ten people have so far been killed while several shops and businesses belonging to foreigners have been destroyed in the sporadic attacks which appear to have increased over the last three months.

The attacks, most of which go unreported, are concentrated in South Africa’s poor neighbourhoods as locals express their anger over unemployment, housing shortages, crime and other problems which they blame on foreigners.

The Pretoria News, a newspaper based in the South African reported last week that two people were killed in a poor city neighbourhood as residents turned on foreigners in a violent display of xenophobia.

The newspaper said a foreigner believed to be Zimbabwean was shot while trying to fend off a group of rioters. He was then stabbed with broken bottles and died while receiving emergency treatment.

Police confirmed the killings which also left a number of people injured while several business premises belonging to foreigners were burnt down.

Foreigners in the affected areas are said to be turning to police stations for protection saying they were now living in fear for their lives.

A Zimbabwean journalist based in Pretoria told ZimEye that although the attacks were not planned or coordinated, the general unrest appeared to have increased over the last two to three months.

 He said the affected people were finding little joy from the South African authorities as the police and home affairs officials were simply rounding them up for deportation.

Millions of Zimbabweans are believed to have illegally crossed the border into South Africa and other regional countries to escape the worsening economic situation back home.

 However, the xenophobic attacks which were previously only common in Botswana have spread to South Africa as locals bulk at the impact the huge influx of foreigners is having on the availability of public services and employment.