Authorities act to stop xenophobic violence
South Africa's police and the ruling ANC party yesterday intensified efforts to quell deadly violence against foreigners and a government minister said the unrest could damage the key tourism sector.
At least 24 people have been killed in over a week of violent attacks on African migrant workers, who are accused by many in South Africa's poor townships of stealing jobs and fueling a wave of violent crime.
Local media said two people were killed overnight.
South Africa's tourism minister said the violence could hurt the sector, which contributes around 8 percent of Gross Domestic Product to Africa's biggest economy, employs a million people and attracted 8.4 million visitors last year.
"Africans increasingly travel to South Africa as a holiday destination and these attacks have the potential to certainly impact negatively on that market if this is what people see on their screens and hear on their radios," Marthinus van Schalkwyk told reporters.
Thousands of foreigners have fled into refugee shelters since the violence began on May 11 in Alexandra township.
Several foreigners have been burned to death, women raped and scores of shops and homes looted. More than 200 people have been arrested. Criminal gangs are believed to be involved in the violence.
The ruling African National Congress said the situation was coming under control after it sent officials into townships to appeal for an end to the attacks.
Police also increased their deployment to trouble spots.
"The situation is being managed. Many ANC people are on the ground ... and things are quietening down," ANC spokeswoman Jesse Duarte told 702 Talk Radio.
The unrest threatens to increase political instability at a time of electricity shortages, rising inflation and disaffection among the poor over President Thabo Mbeki's pro-business policies.
South Africa, with a population of 50 million, is home to an estimated 5 million immigrants. Foreigners have been lured from poorer neighbors by work in mines, farms and homes and by one of the world's most liberal immigration and refugee policies.
The biggest group - an estimated 3 million - are from Zimbabwe. They have fled economic collapse at home and the violent political standoff since disputed March 29 elections.
Agencies
(China Daily 05/21/2008 page24)
