Xenophobic attacks erupt in Benoni

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Xenophobic attacks erupted in Benoni on the East Rand on Thursday, Eyewitness News (EWN) reported.

According to EWN, police fired rubber bullets in an attempt to disperse a crowd throwing bottles and stones at journalists and police in Actonville, just outside the CBD.

Locals were also threatening truck drivers and demanding that foreigners leave the area.

On Wednesday, a text message from Actonville councillor Haseenabanu Ismail began doing the rounds.

"Avoid driving in or around hostel & informal (squatter) settlements in Actonville. Area is very volatile now. Please call contacts who normally uses these roads," the text message read.

Another text message was sent to residents on a community alert WhatsApp group on Thursday.

"Please be very vigilant and alert especially Actonville area near hostel and dunswart bridge. Small groups gathering with weapons in their hands. Not sure of their intentions. But as previous msgs was sent out, a possible situation is arising," the message read.

Ismail told News24 that she had been in communication with the city's station commander. He had told her that police had things under control.

Most of the shops in the area were closed on Thursday and shop owners had closed early on Wednesday for their own safety.

Despite reports of rubber bullets being fired, Lieutenant Nomsa Sekele denied having any knowledge of the unrest.

"Our cluster commander just informed me that there is nothing happening there and I have been told to inform the media of this," she said.

News24 - http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Xenophobic-attacks-erupt-in-Benoni-report-20150416
 
And the Beloved County burns again. History just repeats itself.
 
Despite reports of rubber bullets being fired, Lieutenant Nomsa Sekele denied having any knowledge of the unrest.
Click to expand...
Sensing a pattern here. Live in denial, and then after things get out of control, announce an action plan...
 
Police fire rubber bullets at 'looting' hostel dwellers

Johannesburg - Police on Thursday confirmed that they had fired rubber bullets at Wattville hostel dwellers outside Actonville in Benoni.

The group was attempting to break into and loot shops, said Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini.

They were also preventing vehicles from passing through the area.

"The situation is under control at the moment and there is heavy police presence. No break-ins or injuries have been reported so far in the area," Dlamini said.

Wattville resident, Mbali Vilakazi, said the unrest at the nearby hostel had caused several disruptions around the township.

"There are no taxis operating in the area and it seems like police are trying to prevent the people from the hostel from crossing into the township," he said.

Dlamini condemned the violence.

"The act of this violent group is regarded as a criminal act with the intention to rob and steal from the shops and it will not be tolerated," he said.

Reports from Eyewitness News had labelled the unrest as xenophobic attacks.

EWN reported that locals were also threatening truck drivers and demanding that foreigners leave the area.

On Wednesday, a text message from Actonville councillor Haseenabanu Ismail began doing the rounds.

"Avoid driving in or around hostel & informal (squatter) settlements in Actonville. Area is very volatile now. Please call contacts who normally uses these roads," the text message read.

Another text message was sent to residents on a community alert WhatsApp group on Thursday.

"Please be very vigilant and alert especially Actonville area near hostel and dunswart bridge. Small groups gathering with weapons in their hands. Not sure of their intentions. But as previous msgs was sent out, a possible situation is arising," the message read.

Most of the shops in the area were closed on Thursday and shop owners had closed early on Wednesday for their own safety.

Naledi Shange, News24
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...r-bullets-at-looting-hostel-dwellers-20150416
 
For whatever reason , the zulus have a lot of sway , as soon as I heard about the the Xenophobic attacks in Durban I knew it's going to spread throughout the country
 
People with extra time to waste on their hands are doing this.
 
kianm said:
People with extra time to waste on their hands are doing this.
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Word on the streets in Durban yesterday while the police were throwing stun grenades was that it was mostly the disgruntled unemployed edged on by agitators.

I myself saw these agitators first hand; several individuals dotted throughout the massive crowd trying to stir everyone up with shouting and gesturing, much like you'd see someone at a rugby match cheering his team on.

Most of them were street vendors still clutching their wares at the same time. Who they work for or political associations I can only guess but I'm guessing ANCYL. Just a guess
 
Beerisgood said:
Word on the streets in Durban yesterday while the police were throwing stun grenades was that it was mostly the disgruntled unemployed edged on by agitators.

I myself saw these agitators first hand; several individuals dotted throughout the massive crowd trying to stir everyone up with shouting and gesturing, much like you'd see someone at a rugby match cheering his team on.

Most of them were street vendors still clutching their wares at the same time. Who they work for or political associations I can only guess but I'm guessing ANCYL. Just a guess
Click to expand...
It's already been reported to be MK vets
 
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