SA moves to quell xenophobic attacks

South Africa's police and the African National Congress (ANC) intensified efforts on Tuesday to quell anti-foreigner violence that has killed at least 24 people and sent thousands of African immigrants into refugee shelters. Police have struggled for over a week to end the violent attacks on foreigners.

Mbeki acts as violence explodes

As a fresh wave of severe xenophobic violence gripped Johannesburg on Sunday, with five people killed in the Cleveland area, hundreds fleeing to the safety of police stations and shops in the CBD looted, President Thabo Mbeki announced that a panel had been set up to look into the attacks.

Xenophobic violence claims five lives

Five people were killed and 50 were injured on Sunday when xenophobic attacks spread to Cleveland, Johannesburg police said. Spokesperson Captain Cheryl Engelbrecht said the violence started at about 1am. Foreigners, mainly Zimbabweans, were attacked at the Cleveland informal settlement.

Three injured in Alexandra violence

Three teenagers, including a 14-year-old boy, were shot and stabbed as violence flared up again in Alexandra on Tuesday night, Johannesburg police said on Wednesday. Constable Neria Malefetse said the police arrested another five people, bringing the total number of arrests related to suspected xenophobic attacks to 66.

Mob kills two in suspected xenophobia attack

An angry mob shot dead two people and injured at least 40 in suspected xenophobic attacks in Alexandra township on the weekend, Johannesburg police said on Monday. "They threw stones at these people, shot at them, whipped some of them with sjamboks and robbed them," said Inspector Moses Maphakela.

Lolly Jackson on fraud, immigration charges

Teazers boss Emmanuel "Lolly" Jackson and his manager appeared in court on Tuesday on charges of fraud and contravening immigration law, Johannesburg police said. Media reports said that 11 exotic dancers from Russia and the Ukraine were also being questioned.

Convicted rapist allegedly molests boy

A convicted rapist was arrested on Monday on suspicion of molesting a seven-year-old boy in KwaThema near Springs, Johannesburg police said. "A young boy of about seven-years-old reported the matter to his parents this morning," said police spokesperson Captain Johannes Ramphora.

Lenasia service-delivery protest turns violent

A vehicle was burnt and a butchery was robbed during the early hours of Monday morning as residents of an informal settlement in Lenasia South protested against poor service delivery, Johannesburg police said. Two police vehicles were damaged on Sunday and some police officers sustained minor injuries.

Now thieves target magistrate's court

Three hard drives were stolen from the Jeppestown Magistrate's Court, Johannesburg police said on Tuesday. Police spokesperson Inspector Richard Munyai said staff at the court discovered on Tuesday that there had been a break-in some time during the night.

Three shot dead in Lenasia family murder

A Lenasia man was arrested after he allegedly shot dead his wife, sister-in-law and brother-in-law on Sunday afternoon, Johannesburg police said. "The middle-aged man, who was intoxicated at the time of the shooting, had been recently separated from his wife," said Constable Edwin Ntsheo.

Five men rob and burn victims with iron

Five men robbed a family at Hennopsriver in the Erasmia area, burning the mother and father with an iron. Constable Patricia Simelane said the men demanded money -- saying that they had been told there was money in the house -- and "they burnt the mother and father with an iron three of four times on the upper body".

Actor killed in attempted hijacking

Actor and popular Soweto pub owner Shimmy Mofokeng was shot dead by hijackers while approaching his driveway in Leonard Lane in Mulbarton, Johannesburg police said on Wednesday. Spokesperson Captain Julia Claassen said Mofokeng (53) was shot in his upper body as he was about to drive into his yard in his white Kia kombi on Monday.

Bishop condemns raid on refugees

Central Methodist Church Bishop Paul Verryn has condemned the heavy-handed way in which police arrested up to 1 500 refugees housed at his church in the Johannesburg CBD. The arrests were made during a late-night raid on Wednesday. The church is seen as a sanctuary for Zimbabwean refugees.

Woman held for springing convicts from prison

A Johannesburg High Court employee was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the unlawful release of hardened criminals from prison, Johannesburg police said. Spokesperson Inspector Sanku Tsunke said the 30-year-old woman was expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court later on Tuesday.

Over 200 arrested in inner city

About 234 people have been arrested over a 48-hour period in the inner city, Johannesburg police said on Thursday. "All these people were arrested in Hillbrow, Berea and Joubert Park as part of our accelerated crime combat operations, to maintain a safe environment as we are preparing for the new year celebrations," said police spokesperson Captain Bhekizizwe Mavundla.

Police find 16kg of cocaine in knapsack at airport

Johannesburg police discovered 16kg of cocaine with a street value of R7,2-million at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday. Senior Superintendent Vish Naidoo said officers came across the drugs, hidden in a knapsack, in the airport's cargo section. The knapsack was concealed in a maize bag.

Mama Jackie guilty of kidnapping

Controversial Soweto school principal Jackie Maarohanye, also known as "Mama Jackie", was found guilty of kidnapping a former student by the Protea Magistrate's Court on Monday, Johannesburg police said. "The case was postponed to January 21 for sentencing," said police spokesperson Constable Sefako Xaba.

Police recover millions in stolen goods

Two suspected house robbers were arrested in a North Riding complex in Randburg on Friday in possession of stolen goods worth millions of rands, Johannesburg police said. The goods include diamonds and jewellery worth more than R3-million, said Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini.

Police track down alleged robber hiding in a ditch

Johannesburg police arrested a man on Monday in connection with an armed robbery at a Pick 'n Pay supermarket in Mulbarton over the weekend. Police spokesperson Captain Julia Claasen said the man was found in a ditch where he had been hiding since the robbery on Sunday evening.

Five arrested after robbery at Bryanston supermarket

Five robbers were arrested -- four of them with gunshot wounds -- after a shoot-out with the police after a robbery at the Checkers supermarket in Bryanston, north of Johannesburg, on Sunday. Johannesburg police spokesperson Captain Julia Claassen said the five-man gang robbed staff and customers of an undisclosed amount of money and cellphones.

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