Xenophobia hits Joburg East

More than 200 foreign nationals had to seek refuge at the Cleveland Police Station and four police cars were stoned during xenophobic attacks on Thursday night and Friday morning.

The Cleveland SAPS communication officer, Constable Mpho Mashakane, said police officers received calls after 8pm on Thursday about “a fight” on Queen Street in Cleveland.

“When arriving at the scene, there was a group of people throwing stones at foreign nationals. 12 men in their 20s were arrested at the scene,” said Const Mashakane.

She added that after some time, a group of foreigners flocked to the police station asking for protection.

“The group grew rapidly. At 10pm we had more than 200 people in the police hall. About 90 were women and children. Breast feeding mothers were there with their toddlers. Disoriented people, who did not know what would happen to their lives next, were pacing up and down in the hall,” said Const Mashakane.

She added that some shops were looted during the attacks.

“Some people were injured when stones were thrown at them. Fortunately, there was no serious injuries. Some shops were broken into and properties were vandalised. It was bad,” she said.

She added that police visibility has increased.

“Neighbouring stations and units came to help us and we patrolled the area. At 2am it was relatively back to normal and some of the foreign nationals who were sheltered in our station went back to their homes,” she said.

She said by Friday morning, the people seeking refuge at the police station had left.

On Friday, some shop owners did not open their businesses but were seen standing in groups outside. Some were frequently on their phones.

It is not clear if they were assessing the situation in other areas or if were looking out to protect their businesses.

They did not want to comment or be photographed as they feared victimisation.

Jeppestown tense and volatile

Police fired rubber bullets to disperse a panga-wielding crowd next to Park Street in Jeppestown on Friday, April 17.

A group assembled there from the early hours of the morning. Eye witnesses said the group was there to chase out a foreign national.

When asked why the foreign national was to be chased out, a woman said, “He is a foreigner ‘moss’.”

During that commotion, a man was seen distributing pangas and young men rushed to arm themselves.

It was then that the public order police arrived and fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

Small groups of locals and foreigners were seen around Jeppestown after that.

No one was willing to speak out of fear of being victimised.

The situation was tense and volatile towards mid-day on Friday.

Police visibility remained high in the area.

The Jeppe SAPS communications officer, Warrant Officer Richard Munyayi, said there were no incidents reported to the Jeppe SAPS.

“We had incidents last night (Thursday) but today it is quiet,” he said on Friday.