South Africa violence against foreigners: OCHA Situation Report No. 1

HIGHLIGHTS

24 May 2008

- Violence in townships against foreign nationals has claimed 42 lives (23 May 2008) and has spread to most of the country;

- According to the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), more than 21,800 persons are currently displaced in South Africa as a result of the violence;

- Most of the displaced are currently sheltered in ad hoc relief sites at police and fire stations, churches and other public buildings;

- The Government is considering the establishment of ‘centres of safe shelter’ to assist and protect the displaced if the current level of displacement is sustained;

- Community and faith-based organisations, international NGOs, the Red Cross and UN agencies have been providing food assistance, medical and non-food items ;

- The proliferation of coordination mechanisms remains a challenge that the NDMC intends to streamline;

- Concerns remain that the violence may continue further;

- The Government is discussing durable solutions in the event of continued displacement.

CONTEXT

Government sources state that since the wave of attacks on foreign nationals began on 11 May, 2008, 42 people have been killed and more than 500 injured with violence now spreading to all but two provinces in South Africa. Attacks have occurred mostly at night and have targeted foreign migrants from Bangladesh, Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Zimbabwe and other countries as well as non-Zulu speaking South Africans. They appear to be increasingly coordinated and threats of attack are sometimes issued with leaflets distributed in townships(1).

The violence began on the night of 11 May 2008, when angry mobs attacked foreign nationals and non-Zulu speaking locals in the Alexandra Township (Johannesburg metropolitan area) killing three and injuring more than 40. Several homes were also burned. Almost 1,000 people fled to the local police station for safety. Attacks were then reported in the East Rand townships of Tembisa, Thokoza and Primrose and by 18 May 2008 had reached the centre of Johannesburg. Since 21 May 2008, violence has spread to other areas of South Africa and only two provinces remain unaffected, including Limpopo and Northern Cape Province. The situation has resulted in generalized fear and anxiety throughout the country.

As a result of the attacks, many foreign nationals have fled from areas of danger to police stations for protection. The NDMC has counted more than 21,800 people displaced so far with 19,375 persons displaced in Gauteng Province, 1,573 persons in Western Cape, 800 in Mpumalanga(2) and 81 in Limpopo.

Notes:

(1) According to representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, leaflets warning foreigners to leave have been circulated in Soweto and in Pretoria

(2) The NDMC states that it is aware that some of them might have already repatriated to Mozambique by train. See www.ndmc.gov.za


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Source: UN OCHA