Xenophobic violence rocks Alex

One person has been shot and killed and about 60 others injured when xenophobic violence flared in Alexandra on Sunday night.

The attacks on residents, most from Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique, started on Sunday night when a mob started breaking into their shacks demanding that they move out of the area.

The violence happened between 1st and 8th avenues, along London Road, which is an area occupied by the foreigners.

Although calm had returned this morning, most of the victims were still taking refuge at the local clinic, where they had been treated for their injuries. Others were transported to Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital.

Among the victims was 44-year-old Willex Katundu from Malawi.






Still in bandages on his head, Katundu said he had been asleep at around 8.30pm last night with his wife and three children when he heard gun shots and a noise in the street.

"When I went outside to check what was happening, I saw a lot of people carrying iron bars, stones, sticks and even guns.

One guy said he was looking for foreigners who are taking their jobs and misbehaving in the community," he said.

Terrified, Katundu said he dashed back to his shack where he told his wife to run away from the mob. The couple promptly locked the doors, dressed up their children and later fled their home. They left behind all their belongings.

Katundu said he then took his wife to a house of a South African friend in the neighbourhood. On his return to salvage what he could from his shack, he was attacked by a mob armed with an assortment of weapons.

"Who are you? Where do you come from? The mob asked before they started assaulting me. I could not hide the truth because of my accent. I just told them where I come from," he recalled.

Katundu added that the crowd took his keys and opened his shack. As they helped themselves to his belongings he got a chance to escape to the Alexandra clinic, where he was treated.

Police spokesperson Inspector Simon Maphakela confirmed that the incident was xenophobic.

"All the victims were either from Malawi, Mozambique or Zimbabwe. We have arrested 12 people and will be charged with murder, attempted murder, theft, malicious damage to property and public violence."

Manager of the Alexandra clinic Dr Muvili Simba said 58 patients were treated for injuries last night. Some of them received stitches. Simba said two people were transferred to Johannesburg Hospital for gunshot and stab wounds in a serious condition.

He said two women claimed to have been beaten up and raped during the attack.