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Joint Task Team media release on xenophobic attacks
22 May 2008

A cordon and search operation, involving some specialist police units from the South African Police Services (SAPS) and members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), was mounted early this morning at various hostels around Gauteng. Hostels searched were Wolhuter, George Goch and Denver within the areas of Jeppestown and Cleveland.

The SANDF members were responsible for cordoning off the hostels areas whilst the police conducted the searches.

A total of 28 people were arrested within six hours of the operation and will be charged with various offences, including the illegal possession of firearms. There were some stolen goods among the items that were found in the hostels. Ten illegal firearms were among the items that were confiscated and will be subjected to ballistics testing to determine if they were used in the current violence.

Since the eruption of violence in Gauteng ten days ago, the police have arrested to date 519 suspects. There were 466 incidents of public violence and 42 people were murdered. Victims injured during the period under review number 550.

There are at present 25 000 people who have displaced. The majority of the affected people are foreign nationals. There are 10 000 of those displaced people who have sought shelter at the various police stations around Gauteng and Mpumalanga. Those who sought refuge at the Leslie Police Station in Mpumalanga ran away from their houses believing they would be caught in the conflict in that area involving two taxi associations.

There are many South African citizens among the people who have been displaced as well as those who have sustained injuries.

A Joint Task Team, comprised of Cabinet members from national government and the province of Gauteng, has been given responsibility by the two spheres of government to handle the matter. The team met yesterday with all the mayors in Gauteng to discuss their involvement in the task team and some of the tasks that needed to be fulfilled as a matter of urgency. One of the important matters the mayors were asked to handle was the identification of land to pitch temporary shelters for the displaced people.

All the affected people will be moved to those shelters. The required resources have been mobilised, including tents that will be used to accommodate the people.

There are a number of organisations that have indicated their readiness to help in this unfortunate situation. They include South Africa's civil society organisations and individuals who have offered various kinds of assistance. The Jewish Board of Deputies, Business Unity South Africa and the Gift of the Givers, are among South African organisations that are helping. The other organisations that stands ready to help include the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNCHR) and the international Red Cross.

We want to take the opportunity to thank all the various organisations and individuals who have already assisted us and those that have offered to assist.

Enquiries:
Thabo Masebe
Cell: 082 410 8087

Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
22 May 2008

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Last modified: 23 May 2008 16:41:31.