Xenophobic attacks: SA arrests 3, 900

More than 3,900 people, including 1,650 migrants and about 2,260 South Africans have been arrested on a variety of charges in that country as part of a police crackdown following April’s deadly xenophobic violence.

Authorities said in a statement on Sunday, that security agencies continue to work around the clock to protect both foreign nationals and South African citizens against any attacks.

“We are satisfied that we have stabilised the situation and further loss of life has been prevented,” the statement said.

“We will, in the next weeks and months, accelerate our efforts to take back public buildings that have been hijacked, either by foreign nationals or by South Africans; rid our townships and villages of drugs… that are destroying the lives of many young people,” the government statement said.

The crackdown came after at least seven people were killed as mobs hunted down migrant workers from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and other African countries, forcing hundreds of terrified families to abandon their homes.

The arrests of the so-called “illegal” migrants have prompted concerns that the government is fanning xenophobic sentiment, though authorities have denied that the operation targeted foreigners.

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