Xeno alert: Close watch on Umlazi

Police were yesterday monitoring the situation in Umlazi, South of Durban, following incidents suggesting that xenophobic violence could once again flare up in the area.

“We are closely monitoring the situation,” KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Major Thulani Zwane, said.

This after 15 local business people had been arrested in Umlazi’s Q section after they allegedly circulated letters warning foreigners running business in the area to close down operations.

The suspects, who appeared at the Umlazi Magistrate Court yes- terday, had charges against them squashed after the court had found that there was no evidence linking them to the intimidating messages.

“The matter was struck off the roll but police investigations are continuing,” Zwane said.

However, the same court yesterday told three other people accused of assaulting foreign nationals in Umlazi’s J section, they had a case to answer.

Joseph Hlongwa, Sizwe Xaba and Sifiso Ntuli, all of who are facing common assault charges after they had allegedly attacked foreign nationals in the area over the weekend, were granted R1 000 bail each.

“The matter was adjourned to June 10 for further investigation, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) provincial spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson, said.

Last month thousands of foreign nationals around Durban had to flee their homes and businesses.

This followed attacks on them by local people who at the time claimed they were carrying out Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini’s instructions for immigrants living in the country to be deported.

Many of the foreign nationals, who had to be housed in refugees camps around Durban, had since either returned to their countries or to local communities, with less 500 still living in the Chatsworth refugee camp.