Junius
JF-Expert Member
- Mar 11, 2009
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Violence in South Africa's townships has spread as residents protest about what they say is a lack of basic services, such as water and housing. Police have fired rubber bullets at demonstrators in Johannesburg, the Western Cape and the north-eastern region of Mpumalanga.
In Mpumalanga, there were reports of foreign-owned businesses being looted as foreigners sought police protection.
More than 100 people have been arrested during the past week.
The rising tensions in the townships have revived memories of xenophobic attacks on foreigners last year in which more than 60 people died.
The latest protests over service delivery come less than 100 days after Jacob Zuma took office as president, following a resounding election victory for the governing African National Congress (ANC).
They are a reminder of the impatience felt in the most deprived areas of the country, says BBC world affairs correspondent Peter Biles.
On Tuesday, police cars were stoned in Thokoza near Johannesburg during a demonstration about living conditions that turned violent.
Nearby township Diepsloot saw cars and houses being burnt last week in protest at plans to tear down makeshift shacks to make way for a sewage pipe.
SOURCE:BBC
In Mpumalanga, there were reports of foreign-owned businesses being looted as foreigners sought police protection.
More than 100 people have been arrested during the past week.
The rising tensions in the townships have revived memories of xenophobic attacks on foreigners last year in which more than 60 people died.
The latest protests over service delivery come less than 100 days after Jacob Zuma took office as president, following a resounding election victory for the governing African National Congress (ANC).
They are a reminder of the impatience felt in the most deprived areas of the country, says BBC world affairs correspondent Peter Biles.
On Tuesday, police cars were stoned in Thokoza near Johannesburg during a demonstration about living conditions that turned violent.
Nearby township Diepsloot saw cars and houses being burnt last week in protest at plans to tear down makeshift shacks to make way for a sewage pipe.
SOURCE:BBC
