TWO houses were burnt down in Smutsville near Sedgefield in the early hours of yesterday as religious and community leaders were helping the Garden Route to return to normality after a spate of xenophobic violence.
With police reinforcements on the way, no other incidents of violence against immigrants were reported in the Southern Cape yesterday.
Police spokesman Captain Malcolm Pojie said six people – one linked to the arson case – were arrested on charges of public violence.
More police, including crowd control specialists, will arrive today to be deployed in Thembalethu in George and KwaNonqaba in Mossel Bay.
Pojie said 22 people had been arrested in Knysna, 38 in George, eight in Sedgefield and 12 in Mossel Bay since violence erupted last Thursday.
“The number of arrests keeps climbing as people come in to the police stations with information.
“We even have people coming in to complain that they were injured when police fired rubber bullets into unruly crowds and we‘re arresting them on charges of public violence.”
Pojie said although the situation was quiet, it was “very, very tense” and rumour was rife.
“We are following up every bit of information we get from the community and via the intelligence agencies,” he added.
Eden district mayor Rudi Laws said plans were being made to return the more than 1000 displaced immigrants to their homes outside George, Mossel Bay and Knysna. Many are living in municipal and church halls, and even in temporary tent camps.
The violence first broke out in the Southern Cape in White Location outside Knysna last Thursday when five Somali-owned shops were looted.
Hundreds of immigrants fled the area to seek refuge at the Knysna police station. They were housed in the municipal hall and eventually moved to a tent encampment at the Loerie Park sports grounds.
On Saturday, Somali shops were looted in Thembalethu, Pacaltsdorp and Conville outside George, and in KwaNonqwaba outside Mossel Bay.
In Plettenberg Bay, one immigrant- owned shop was burnt down and another robbed, but police said this was more likely the work of criminal opportunists than xenophobia.
On Monday, a shack was burnt down in Sizamile outside Sedgefield but no one was injured.
Eden disaster management head Gerhard Otto said imams were working to calm emotions among Muslims, as were Somali community leaders.
He said groups of women and children had been prominent in the looting in Knysna and religious leaders were helping to control unruly locals.
Director Robbie Robertson, head of visible policing in the Western Cape, said many immigrants did not want to lay charges of assault, but he encouraged them to come forward and also asked the community to co-operate with police in identifying criminals responsible for the attacks.
Bitou ANC secretary Putco Mapitiza said in a statement: “We believe that through the recognition of the crucial role played by the international community in South Africa‘s liberation, all South Africans will work together to ensure that we build a better world where people of different nations and races co-exist and live in peace and harmony.”
Alan Winde, DA MPL for Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, said: “I wish to commend the police and authorities in the way that they have dealt with and brought calm to the possible explosion of xenophobic activity. I would also like to thank the individuals who have gone out of their way to protect, feed, house and take care of (immigrants) running for their lives.”
The majority of the community joined hands to help the more than 1000 displaced, donating food, blankets, toiletries and offering shelter. - The Herald
With police reinforcements on the way, no other incidents of violence against immigrants were reported in the Southern Cape yesterday.
Police spokesman Captain Malcolm Pojie said six people – one linked to the arson case – were arrested on charges of public violence.
More police, including crowd control specialists, will arrive today to be deployed in Thembalethu in George and KwaNonqaba in Mossel Bay.
Pojie said 22 people had been arrested in Knysna, 38 in George, eight in Sedgefield and 12 in Mossel Bay since violence erupted last Thursday.
“The number of arrests keeps climbing as people come in to the police stations with information.
“We even have people coming in to complain that they were injured when police fired rubber bullets into unruly crowds and we‘re arresting them on charges of public violence.”
Pojie said although the situation was quiet, it was “very, very tense” and rumour was rife.
“We are following up every bit of information we get from the community and via the intelligence agencies,” he added.
Eden district mayor Rudi Laws said plans were being made to return the more than 1000 displaced immigrants to their homes outside George, Mossel Bay and Knysna. Many are living in municipal and church halls, and even in temporary tent camps.
The violence first broke out in the Southern Cape in White Location outside Knysna last Thursday when five Somali-owned shops were looted.
Hundreds of immigrants fled the area to seek refuge at the Knysna police station. They were housed in the municipal hall and eventually moved to a tent encampment at the Loerie Park sports grounds.
On Saturday, Somali shops were looted in Thembalethu, Pacaltsdorp and Conville outside George, and in KwaNonqwaba outside Mossel Bay.
In Plettenberg Bay, one immigrant- owned shop was burnt down and another robbed, but police said this was more likely the work of criminal opportunists than xenophobia.
On Monday, a shack was burnt down in Sizamile outside Sedgefield but no one was injured.
Eden disaster management head Gerhard Otto said imams were working to calm emotions among Muslims, as were Somali community leaders.
He said groups of women and children had been prominent in the looting in Knysna and religious leaders were helping to control unruly locals.
Director Robbie Robertson, head of visible policing in the Western Cape, said many immigrants did not want to lay charges of assault, but he encouraged them to come forward and also asked the community to co-operate with police in identifying criminals responsible for the attacks.
Bitou ANC secretary Putco Mapitiza said in a statement: “We believe that through the recognition of the crucial role played by the international community in South Africa‘s liberation, all South Africans will work together to ensure that we build a better world where people of different nations and races co-exist and live in peace and harmony.”
Alan Winde, DA MPL for Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, said: “I wish to commend the police and authorities in the way that they have dealt with and brought calm to the possible explosion of xenophobic activity. I would also like to thank the individuals who have gone out of their way to protect, feed, house and take care of (immigrants) running for their lives.”
The majority of the community joined hands to help the more than 1000 displaced, donating food, blankets, toiletries and offering shelter. - The Herald
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