Tracing the close contacts of people who test positive for coronavirus disease is a delicate dance. Here’s why these health workers wait
for the cover of darkness to take action
The Constitutional Court is expected to issue directions ”very soon” on the fate of people living in camps for refugees from xenophobic violence.
In the past three weeks, a small society has emerged in the garden of Johannesburg’s Jeppe police station where about 1 400 refugees are living. And, as in a normal society, crime has also blossomed. A team of ”peace marshals” has been appointed to try to bring law and order to the camp community.
As the sun set on another bloody day of xenophobic violence in Gauteng on Monday, at least 22 people were reported dead, many more injured and 217 arrested for fierce attacks on both foreigners and local residents living in the greater Johannesburg area. Aid organisations were assisting thousands of refugees at civic centres and police stations.
Hundreds of frightened foreigners fled to the sanctity of the Jeppe police station in central Johannesburg on Sunday morning following a night of deadly xenophobic violence that claimed at least five lives and left about 50 people injured. The atmosphere at the police station was tense, with helicopters circling overhead.
Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula said on Friday that those responsible for continuous xenophobic attacks in Gauteng townships will be ”severely dealt with”. He was responding to the violence in Alexandra and Diepsloot that erupted in the past week, in which three people were killed and dozens injured.
Calm returned to Alexandra township on Wednesday night after earlier clashes between police and residents. Hardly any activity was visible late in the night, besides the flashing blue lights of police patrol vehicles. The stand-off between the police and residents arose in the aftermath of xenophobic attacks in the township this week.
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/ 2 February 2008
Millions of rands of international donor funds intended to be used by the Red Cross Society in KwaZulu-Natal have disappeared.