WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2008-04-18 Time: 00:00:00 Posted By: Jan
Thousands of immigrants were terrorised for a third day in a row as thugs continued to attack, loot and burn their homes and businesses in Mamelodi.
As the violence continued, a Mozambican immigrant rights organisation called on the SANDF to be deployed to restore peace and stability to the area.
In the xenophobic attacks, believed to be fuelled by gangs of ordinary criminals, hundreds of people turned on immigrants throughout the township’s informal settlements, including Alaska, Phomolong, Lusaka and Phase 5 and its surrounding areas.
Mamelodi’s eastern informal settlements are home to the Pertorias’s biggest immigrant population.
| ‘People’s homes and businesses are being destroyed’ |
Hundreds of heavily armed police and Tshwane Metro Police in armoured vehicles swarmed through the sprawling informal settlements, clashing repeatedly with stone-throwing residents.
Journalists were not spared either; several were threatened and stoned for trying to report on the situation.
A senior councillor said: “Our worst fears are being realised. If we don’t contain this, there will be more bloodshed.
“These people, whom I regard as terrorists, are determined to wipe out the immigrants. They won’t stop until they do so.”
Mozambican community leader Mathias Ngundo called for the army to be deployed.
| ‘We’re ready for anything and won’t allow these thugs to continue with this’ |
“If they aren’t, there will be bloodshed. People will die if the soldiers don’t come to help the police.
“It’s chaos. What is happening is terrible. People’s homes and businesses are being destroyed. People are being hurt and killed.
“We need this to be stopped. The army and the police have to help us,” he said.
Responding to Ngundo’s calls for the SANDF to be deployed, Tshwane Metro Police spokesperson William Baloyi said although the situation was worrying, it had not reached the point where the army was needed.
“We aren’t there yet. We understand people’s concerns. We understand people are worried, but we have the situation under control.
“Our members are there. We’re ready for anything and won’t allow these thugs to continue with this.
“This will be brought to an end,” said Baloyi.
He said one of the biggest challenges was understanding how the “well co-ordinated” attacks were being organised.
“Those responsible are working in groups and are starting sporadic attacks. On top of this they create false alarms, forcing police to respond to non-existent ‘attacks’ in one section of the township while a genuine attack takes place in another.
“This is proving challenging. We condemn people taking advantage of such a serious situation,” Baloyi said, adding that there appeared to be a criminal element using the xenophobic attacks as a smokescreen.
Another challenge was containing the violence, preventing it from spreading to other areas and ultimately bringing it to an end.
“We have managed to keep it in the eastern sections,” Baloyi said.
He said foreigners who had lost their homes had been taken to shelters throughout the city where they were being provided with food and blankets.
Mamelodi East police station spokesperson Inspector Sam Mbewe condemned the attacks and said the violence was cause for concern.
He said several people had been arrested and charged with public violence and malicious damage to property.
Mbuso Mthembu, Red Cross provincial manager for Gauteng, said they had learned about the shacks being burnt down in Mamelodi.
“We sent someone there to identify who and how many people are affected and what help they need. As soon as this report is ready, we will be able to determine how we can assist. We already have some blankets ready that will be sent there,” he said.