According to police spokesman Colonel Lungelo Dlamini, five people have been killed in and around Johannesburg in the latest wave of xenophobic attacks.
Early on Tuesday, members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) fired rubber bullets as another wave of xenophobic attacks hit Johannesburg.
Five murders; 189 arrests
Col Dlamini explained that criminal gangs had taken advantage of the chaotic situation; and “have been involved in breaking into businesses not only for those of the foreign national shops but businesses in general.” He added:
In addition, 189 people have been arrested following violence in parts of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg Central, Jeppe and Cleveland policing areas
“Police have increased deployments to cover all the areas identified as hot spots of violence that has seen several shops being looted; burned and property being looted. Today the situation has been stabilised in parts of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg Central, Jeppe and Cleveland policing areas. A total of 189 arrests have been effected since Sunday for criminal acts including public violence, malicious damage to property and theft. Five murders have also been reported, two in Corronationville, two in Hillbrow and one near the hostel at Jeppe.”
