South Africa's ethnic violence getting out of control

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The internal clash between the poorest of the poor has led to the losses as the people have laid bare their bitter frustration with the government due to its failure in delivering enough jobs, housing and schools. This has led to increased political instability at a time of perennial electricity shortages, rising inflation and disaffection over President Thabo Mbeki's policies to promote business and investment.

Police spokesman Govindsamy Mariemuthoo confirmed that 22 people had been killed since the violence broke out last week and that more than 200 people had been arrested on charges including murder, rape and robbery.

As the violence spread like a 'forest fire' from one slum to the next reminiscent of some of the bloodiest days of apartheid, police had to bring in reinforcements. Most of the victims are Zimbabwean, Malawian, Mozambican and other immigrants from elsewhere in Africa living in squatter camps. The attacks have been sparked by the belief that foreign workers are taking up the scarce South African jobs leading to mass unemployment among the natives.

For nine days, attacks against foreign immigrants have spread uncontrollably through Johannesburg's poorest areas, leaving hundreds injured and thousands homeless in the worst outbreak of township violence since the end of apartheid in the African nations. The violence began on May 11 in the notoriously crime-ridden township of Alexandra when Zimbabwean immigrants came under attack. Since then, the assaults have only grown more terrible and widespread that the police forces had to be stretched so thin that the military is also being mobilized to patrol not only townships and their poor outlying areas, known as informal settlements, but also downtown Johannesburg, which has also been struck.

Though police and aid groups say the violence has been mostly one-sided, with South Africans assaulting foreigners, residents of Ramaphosa said there have been counterattacks as well.

Lisa Letsoso, an 18-year-old South African living in the Ramaphosa squatter district, is volunteering with church groups distributing aid to people who had fled to Reiger Park and is troubled by the state of affairs.

"The South Africans are fighting the foreigners. Now the foreigners are fighting back. Everyone is suffering," she said.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Desmond Tutu has made a plea for the violence to end and things to get back to normalcy in the earnest.

"Please stop. Please stop the violence now. These are our sisters and brothers," he said in a statement.

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