Xenophobic violence claimed 62 lives in South Africa

01.06.2008

THE South Africa Police Service (SAPS) has put the total number of deaths from the xenophobic violence at 62.

This is just as the United Nations (UN) has donated tents to displaced foreigners.

National police spokesperson, Sally De beer, who made the disclosure today in Johannesburg, said 670 foreigners were wounded in the anti-immigrant violence.

The violence erupted on May 11 in the Alexandra township and later spread to other parts of the country.

De beer, however, said the violence seemed to have subsided. The attacks targeted immigrants including Zimbabweans and Mozambicans whom locals blamed for taking their jobs and instigating crimes in their neighborhoods.

About 70,000 people were said to have been displaced from their homes in the two-week orgy of violence.

Meanwhile, following request by South Africa for aid, the UN has donated tens of thousands of tents to help shelter foreigners displaced by the violent attacks.

De beer said that late on Friday, government officials were still locked in a meeting to discuss details.

She confirmed that government had asked the UN to help set up camps for foreigners displaced by xenophobia.

South Africa would rather call the refugee camps ‘temporary shelters’.

De beer disclosed that government would not be asking for money but expertise because “the country had not handled refugees before.”