More than 420 xenophobia cases pending

A total of 421 cases are pending in connection with xenophobia attacks countrywide, the Safety and Security Ministry said on Monday.

Spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi said a total of 1 446 charges had been laid related to the May violence that killed more than 60 people.

The cases have been postponed pending further investigations, bail applications and applications for legal aid.

Another 82 people walked free after charges against them were withdrawn for a number of reasons.

Reasons for these withdrawals include requests by the complainants for the cases to be withdrawn (where victims have been re-integrated into the communities) and complainants/victims or crucial witnesses having left the country, Mulaudzi said in a statement.

A breakdown of the number of cases per province: North West (seven), KwaZulu-Natal (52), Free State (15), Gauteng (139), Western Cape (164), Eastern Cape (43), Northern Cape (one).—Sapa