Somali businesses attacked in South Africa

A community of Somali migrants were attacked in the black township of Kwanobuhle, near Port Elizabeth on the southern coast of South Africa, Agence France-Presse (AFP) said on Tuesday. According to the report, a mob looted at least 25 shops belonging to Somali migrants living in the township. One shop was set ablaze. The gang also broke into the Kwanobuhle Islamic centre, where there is a mosque, and stole artefacts, smashed windows and destroyed the bathtub used to wash the dead. Some of the Somalis took refuge in a police station. Police, who fought running battles with the looters, said they had arrested six people and expected to arrest more. According to the police, the looters accused the migrants of taking their jobs and businesses, AFP said.

Jenny Barnsley of the Johannesburg Roll Back Xenophobia campaign told IRIN that Somalis were thought to have been targeted "primarily because they are quite visible in business in the area". She said Kwanobuhle suffered poor economic conditions and foreigners "had become easy scapegoats." Meanwhile, the Port Elizabeth branch of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) condemned Monday's attacks. The ANC western region secretary, Beza Ntshona, was quoted as saying that the attacks were "totally against the programme of the party that is focusing against racism and xenophobia".