More cops deployed to Diepsloot
More police were being deployed to Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, on Tuesday, said police.
"The situation is still calm but we have deployed more police officials there this evening," said Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini.
Police arrested 45 people in the area on Monday, 38 of them for public violence, four for possession of unlicensed firearms, and three for housebreaking and theft.
They were scheduled to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
Violence and looting in Diepsloot began on Sunday evening when a Somali man, 39, allegedly shot dead two Zimbabweans who had allegedly tried to rob him at his shop.
Bishar Isaack, was arrested and appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Tuesday on a charge of murder. The case was postponed to June 4.
After his arrest on Sunday, community members stoned and looted his shop. They then looted a number of other shops in the area were looted.
Nine people were arrested on Sunday for public violence and possession of stolen goods. They appeared in court on Tuesday when the case was withdrawn.
In the Vaal, police received around 100 complaints about looting at both local and foreign-owned shops, following service delivery protests last week.
On Tuesday, political parties bemoaned the violence.
The African National Congress said the attacks had tarnished the country's image.
"South Africa is a country of integrity and honour internationally, but the recent attacks on our brothers and sisters have put a dent in our image as a peaceful nation," said ANC Gauteng spokesman Dumisa Ntuli.
The Democratic Alliance said the unrest could be blamed on a lack of employment and poverty.
"As resources become scarcer, so the competition for jobs, housing, and basic services increases. This, in turn, fuels feelings of deprivation on the part of South Africans," said DA spokesman Mmusi Maimane.
The Inkatha Freedom Party said the attacks were sickening.
[We] view the attacks... as sickening and ridiculous, especially when one remembers that 50 years ago all Africans committed themselves to building a new continent of hope, with the concept of ubuntu as a key hallmark," said IFP Gauteng chairman Nhlanhla Msimango.
Cope spokesman Mluleki George also condemned the violence.
"The attacks are nothing but a cowardly and criminal act which only takes society backwards," he said.
The SA Communist Party said it was shocked at the violence.
"[We]call upon our communities, activists and leaders of fraternal and revolutionary movements to intervene decisively in the affected communities, and work in partnership with law enforcement agencies to ensure that these barbaric, extremely backward and inhuman acts are brought to an immediate end," said SACP spokesman Lucian Segami.
The Gauteng provincial government added its voice to the condemnation.
"These are clear acts of opportunistic crimes on a vulnerable group of Gauteng residents by a minority of hooligans living in our communities," said premier Nomvula Mokonyane.
"We call upon all our people across the province to refrain from taking part in [the] attacks that we have seen. We must all ensure that a repeat of 2008 does not happen," she said.
She was referring to a string of xenophobic attacks which erupted in the country five years ago.
Source : Sapa /nsm/hdw/dd/clh
Date : 28 May 2013 18:36
