Migrants Attacked in South Africa

(20 July 10 - RV) South African residents have attacked migrants from African countries in a Johannesburg township, injuring at least five people and increasing concerns of a wave of xenophobia after the soccer World Cup.


Tensions have long been building between South Africans and millions of foreign migrants they accuse of taking jobs and homes, but open animosity appeared to be put on hold during the World Cup as South Africa showed its best face to the world.


Gunther Simmermacher is the editor of the South African Catholic weekly, the Southern Cross. He says that it is unlikely that these attacks are linked to xenophobic sentiment: