Seven Zimbabweans, four men and three women, were found dead in South Africa after their shack in Western Cape province was allegedly set alight, police said Monday.
A police spokesman told SAfm public radio that the alleged attack, which took place in a squatter camp, was under investigation.
Last year, mobs killed at least 62 people and drove thousands of others from their homes in a two-week frenzy of xenophobic violence targeting mostly migrants from neighbouring countries, such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi.
The mobs blamed the millions of African migrants in South Africa for providing unwelcome competition for scarce jobs and public housing. - (dpa)
A police spokesman told SAfm public radio that the alleged attack, which took place in a squatter camp, was under investigation.
Last year, mobs killed at least 62 people and drove thousands of others from their homes in a two-week frenzy of xenophobic violence targeting mostly migrants from neighbouring countries, such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi.
The mobs blamed the millions of African migrants in South Africa for providing unwelcome competition for scarce jobs and public housing. - (dpa)
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Police will launch an investigation into whether the shack fire that killed seven people De Doorns near Worcester could be linked to xenophobic attacks. Seven Zimbabweans were burnt to death after their shack was allegedly set alight. Four men and three women were killed in the incident
Police spokesperson, Andre Greyling says forensic evidence as well as allegations that have been made will be investigated and a docket will be compiled to see if anyone can be held responsible. Greyling added that no arrests have yet been made.
Earlier this month 11 victims of last year's xenophobic attacks alleged that authorities discriminated against immigrants during the investigation of attacks. The victims are now taking government to court, claiming over R5 million in damages. Their application is being brought before the Equality Court by the University of Cape Town's law clinic. - SABC
Xenophobia probe after 7 die in shack fire
Police are investigating whether xenophobia could be the motive behind a weekend shack fire which killed seven Zimbabwe foreign nationals.
Stofland community members reported the burning shack to police in the early hours of Sunday morning.
After the fire was extinguished, the bodies of four men and three women were found.
Police spokesperson Marie Louw said police were on Monday unable to release the names of the deceased, aged between 23 and 40, as their families had not yet been notified.
Ward councillor Mpumelelo Lubisi said at least four other people had been in the shack but escaped the blaze.
They and others from surrounding shacks had spent Sunday night at a community hall as they were too "scared" to return home. De Doorns police spokesperson Andre Greyling said an inquest docket had been opened. - Cape Times
Police begin murder probe after shack fire
Western Cape police are investigating the deaths of seven Zimbabweans who burnt to death in their shack in De Doorns, near Worcester.
Captain Marie Louw said on Tuesday that people who witnessed the incident had told them the fire was started on purpose, prompting police to change their inquest to a murder investigation.
Four men and three women, aged between 23 and 40, died on Sunday after their shack caught fire in Stofland informal settlement.
"All the people who were inside the shack died," said Louw.
No arrests have been made. - Sapa
hang on...
four other people escaped...?
there were 12 people originally in the shack?
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