Violence Against Immigrants in South Africa

(19 May 08 - RV) Mobs killed at least five people and injured 50 in anti-foreigner violence yesterday  that has spread through poor suburbs of Johannesburg. Police said the violence, targeting mainly Zimbabweans, erupted after midnight in a slum settlement called Cleveland near the city centre. Two people were burned and three others beaten to death. More than 50 were taken to hospitals with gunshot and stab wounds.

Gunther Simmermacher is the editor of South Africa’s Southern cross Catholic newspaper. He says that xenophobia is not new in South Africa, but this appears to have been more organized…