The troubles began in Jeppestown, during a speech made by outgoing IFP President Mangosuthu Buthelezi. In trying to bring peace to the area, a splinter group rebelled and ran amok in the CBD. Protests eventually spilled over into Malvern, where shops many owned by foreigners were burned to the ground.
Sadly, the thugs orchestrating this wave of violence didn’t spare religious venues, either. The Masjid Himayatul Islam Mosque on Nugget Street was petrol-bombed late in the evening. Thankfully, law enforcement arrived on the scene rapidly to extinguish the fire. Two suspects were arrested during this incident.
This fresh round of xenophobic protesting has apparently been a deadly one: EWN are reporting that two people died on Sunday, with the second victim succumbing to gunshot wounds sustained during the nighttime violence. David Tembe, the chief of police in Johannesburg, has been monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, the ANC have issued an official statement on the matter. They have expressed their sympathies with frustrated communities, but rejected the violence that has gripped Johannesburg in September. The party are pleading with citizens to restore their faith in SAPS, and urge the public to ‘let the police do their jobs’.
Kaynak: TheSouthAfrican
