Foreigners chased from homes in Western Cape

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Nov 17 2009 15:00

About 600 foreigners were forced to flee their homes in informal settlements around De Doorns on Tuesday after angry residents destroyed their shacks accusing them of stealing their jobs, Western Cape police said.

"The locals were mainly targeting Zimbabweans. The situation remains tense, but there is no violence," Superintendent Desmond van der Westhuizen said.

Van der Westhuizen said locals refused to allow the foreigners to go to work on Tuesday morning.

"They say that farm owners opt to hire foreigner because they are cheaper and South Africans demand more pay. The community says the Zimbabweans settle for less money, which is not true," he said.

Van der Westhuizen said officials were still looking for alternative accommodation for those affected.

"They are currently housed at the municipal shed and we will decide where to put them." No arrests had been made.

The attack resembled the wave of xenophobic violence which spread across the country in May last year.

Violence erupted against foreigners who were also accused of depriving locals of jobs and committing crimes. It was estimated that 22 people died in those attacks. -- Sapa

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