South African Police Disperse Immigrant Vigilante Group

— April 17, 2015 jacob_zuma_-_copy South African police fired rubber bullets and a stun grenade on Friday to disperse a group of African immigrants who had armed themselves with machetes in a run-down district of east Johannesburg. An official said on condition of anonymity that many South African anti-immigrant protesters gathered to confront the vigilante group, but they were also dispersed by police. International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, was expected to meet ambassadors and diplomats from other African countries to discuss the latest wave of xenophobic attacks in the country. One media photographer also said on condition of anonymity that he was attacked by South African protesters and his equipment stolen. He said more than four people have been killed in the unrest that started two weeks ago in Durban, a major port on South Africa’s Indian Ocean coast where further clashes broke out on Thursday. He said many of those affected by xenophobic sentiments in the country are from Nigeria, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi. South African President, Jacob Zuma, Speaking in parliament on Thursday, called the attacks “shocking” and “unacceptable”. He said there were no amount of frustration or anger that can ever justify the attacks on foreign nationals and the looting of their shops. Zuma condemned the violence in the strongest possible terms, stressing that it violated all the values that South Africa embodies. Violence flared days after Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini said in remarks reported by local media that foreigners should leave South Africa. He has since said his comments were misinterpreted. (Reuters/NAN) Source: http://www.chidiukwu.com/south-african-police-disperse-immigrant-vigilante-group/