This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7420708.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Death toll climbs in SA violence | Death toll climbs in SA violence |
(about 2 hours later) | |
South Africa has given fresh figures on the numbers of people killed and displaced by the wave of attacks on foreigners over the past two weeks. | South Africa has given fresh figures on the numbers of people killed and displaced by the wave of attacks on foreigners over the past two weeks. |
Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula told the BBC 56 people had been killed and more than 650 injured. Previously, 50 deaths were reported. | Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula told the BBC 56 people had been killed and more than 650 injured. Previously, 50 deaths were reported. |
More than 30,000 had been displaced or forced from their homes, he said. | More than 30,000 had been displaced or forced from their homes, he said. |
Other organisations said this was a gross under-estimation and that at least 80,000 had been displaced. | |
Mr Nqakula added that more than 1,300 arrests had been made and special courts had been set up to deal with the situation. | |
Aid agencies say large numbers of Zimbabweans have been leaving for Zambia, with others heading for Mozambique and Botswana. | Aid agencies say large numbers of Zimbabweans have been leaving for Zambia, with others heading for Mozambique and Botswana. |
On Sunday, South African President Thabo Mbeki denounced the anti-immigrant violence as a disgrace that had blemished the name of South Africa. | On Sunday, South African President Thabo Mbeki denounced the anti-immigrant violence as a disgrace that had blemished the name of South Africa. |
'Under control' | 'Under control' |
Mr Mbeki chaired a meeting of a government task force on Monday to discuss the crisis. | Mr Mbeki chaired a meeting of a government task force on Monday to discuss the crisis. |
SOUTH AFRICA Total population: 49mForeign population: 3-5mMajority from Zimbabwe, also Mozambique, NigeriaUnemployment rate: 30% How can S Africa end the violence?Tensions erupt in city of promise | SOUTH AFRICA Total population: 49mForeign population: 3-5mMajority from Zimbabwe, also Mozambique, NigeriaUnemployment rate: 30% How can S Africa end the violence?Tensions erupt in city of promise |
Speaking afterwards, Mr Nqakula said the situation was "now under control". | Speaking afterwards, Mr Nqakula said the situation was "now under control". |
He added that no accurate picture was yet available on the precise ethnic make-up of those who had fled. | He added that no accurate picture was yet available on the precise ethnic make-up of those who had fled. |
According to South Africa's Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, as many as 100,000 Africans may have been driven from their houses. | |
The organisation says it has done a careful count in the Johannesburg area and other organisations have conducted similar tallies in Cape Town and Durban. | |
Many other people have left the country altogether, turning their backs on South Africa - a country they once thought of as home, BBC Africa editor Martin Plaut reports. | |
Aid agencies have spoken of large numbers of Zimbabweans leaving for Zambia, with others heading for Mozambique and Botswana. | Aid agencies have spoken of large numbers of Zimbabweans leaving for Zambia, with others heading for Mozambique and Botswana. |
Francoise Le Goff, director of the Red Cross in Southern Africa, told AFP news agency that the organisation's teams were expecting the arrival of 25,000 Zimbabweans in Zambia, while a further 5,000 had received help to reach Mozambique. | Francoise Le Goff, director of the Red Cross in Southern Africa, told AFP news agency that the organisation's teams were expecting the arrival of 25,000 Zimbabweans in Zambia, while a further 5,000 had received help to reach Mozambique. |
"The big problem is coordination of information between authorities and NGOs [non-governmental organisations] - it's not very well organised," she said. | "The big problem is coordination of information between authorities and NGOs [non-governmental organisations] - it's not very well organised," she said. |
"The government is still looking for shelters for people and we're still in an emergency situation." | "The government is still looking for shelters for people and we're still in an emergency situation." |
Mozambique's government says about 20,000 of its own citizens have fled South Africa. | Mozambique's government says about 20,000 of its own citizens have fled South Africa. |
It has set up transit camps near the capital, Maputo, to accommodate the fleeing migrants. | It has set up transit camps near the capital, Maputo, to accommodate the fleeing migrants. |
Appalling violence | Appalling violence |
In Cape Town, South Africa, the authorities and charities have begun efforts to feed and shelter the displaced. | In Cape Town, South Africa, the authorities and charities have begun efforts to feed and shelter the displaced. |
Advertisement | Advertisement |
South African police raiding the home of a suspect | South African police raiding the home of a suspect |
At least 10,000 immigrants fled to makeshift camps outside the south-western city alone. | At least 10,000 immigrants fled to makeshift camps outside the south-western city alone. |
South African President Thabo Mbeki made his comments on Sunday in a national radio and television address. | South African President Thabo Mbeki made his comments on Sunday in a national radio and television address. |
He said the attacks were the worst acts of inhumanity South Africa had seen since the end of apartheid. | He said the attacks were the worst acts of inhumanity South Africa had seen since the end of apartheid. |
The president has been criticised for his handling of the crisis, including a response which some have seen as slow. | The president has been criticised for his handling of the crisis, including a response which some have seen as slow. |
The BBC's Will Ross in Johannesburg says some in South Africa wonder why it took him two weeks to make this address to the nation. | The BBC's Will Ross in Johannesburg says some in South Africa wonder why it took him two weeks to make this address to the nation. |
Our correspondent says there is a great deal of xenophobia in South Africa and foreigners are often accused of taking away people's jobs and fuelling crime. | Our correspondent says there is a great deal of xenophobia in South Africa and foreigners are often accused of taking away people's jobs and fuelling crime. |
But despite this perception, he adds, most South Africans have been utterly appalled by the violence. | But despite this perception, he adds, most South Africans have been utterly appalled by the violence. |
The troubles flared with a wave of attacks on foreigners in the township of Alexandra, within sight of some of Johannesburg's most expensive suburbs. | The troubles flared with a wave of attacks on foreigners in the township of Alexandra, within sight of some of Johannesburg's most expensive suburbs. |
They have since spread to seven of South Africa's nine provinces. | They have since spread to seven of South Africa's nine provinces. |
Are you in South Africa? Have you witnessed or been caught up in these clashes? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: | Are you in South Africa? Have you witnessed or been caught up in these clashes? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: |
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can click here to upload. Click here to see terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can click here to upload. Click here to see terms and conditions |
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |