ZIMBABWEAN SHOPS, HOUSES AND CARS BURNT DOWN IN SOUTH AFRICA AS XENOPHOBIA REARS UGLY Five shops, two houses and two vehicles belonging to Zimbabweans were burnt on Thursday night in Liphalale town in South Africa’s Limpopo. The incident has raised fears of the return of the chaotic situation where 62 foreigners were brutally killed and thousands others displaced during similar attacks in May 2008. Sources in the coal mining town of Liphalale said tensions were still high in Maropong suburb yesterday amid reports that the locals were planning another onslaught on Zimbabweans. Tensions had been high since April 16 when a number of Zimbabweans living in the area were attacked by South Africans. The volatile situation in Liphalale has forced Zimbabweans living in that area to form a committee to engage the local community and policy makers on the repeated attacks. The committee’s organising secretary Mr Jefta Mararike, who is also a victim of the attacks, said in a telephone interview yesterday that the situation was still tense. “We are living under constant fear,” he said. “You will note that this is a second incident following the burning down of five shops belonging to Zimbabweans in May this year. However, no people were injured in both incidents. “This time I was a victim after they burnt down my house and tuck-shop, destroying property worth over R20 000.” Mr Mararike said they had since notified the Zimbabwean Embassy in that country about the incident and urged the South African police to prevent such attacks.
Posted on: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 12:13:20 +0000
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