South African mobs wielding machetes and firearms are turning on immigrants they say are stealing jobs in the port city of Durban.
Three South Africans and two foreigners were killed in the most recent violence in Durban, including a 14-year-old boy. Roughly 2,000 people sought refuge from the mobs in police stations, CNN reported Thursday.
“We cannot accept that when there are challenges we use violence, particularly to our brothers and sisters on the continent,” said South African president Jacob Zuma, the station reported.
South Africa’s unemployment rate stands at 25 percent.
“We have tents and all essential supplies on standby but pray that sanity prevails and this does not become necessary,” said Gift of the Givers charity in a statement, CNN reported. The organization is helping those who have fled to police stations.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.