A police raid at a South African hostel to probe xenophobic attacks in the country has led to the arrest of 11 people.
The raid, which was conducted in Jeppestown hostel raid in Johannesburg, followed a spate of attacks on foreign nationals and looting of shops.
The Gauteng police raid also resulted in the seizing of bags of dagga and stolen property that has accompanied the xenophobic attacks, now on the increase in South Africa.
The unrest that started in Isipingo, Durban three weeks ago has so far has claimed the lives of at least seven foreigners and seen hundreds return home with the help of the local embassies.
With the unemployment rate at around 25%, many South Africans accuse foreign nationals of taking jobs from locals. Official data suggests there are about two million foreign nationals in South Africa, but some estimates put the number much higher.
Foreign governments have strongly criticised South Africa for failing to protect their nationals.
At least seven people have been killed and 5,000 left homeless since the xenophobic attacks started about three weeks ago against other Africans and Asians.
Troops are being despatched to flashpoints in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province and the economic heartland of Gauteng, which includes Johannesburg.
The first deployments have been in Alexandra, a poor township north of Johannesburg.
Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula announced the deployment of the army during a visit to Alexandra, where Mozambican street hawker Emmanuel Sithole was stabbed to death at the weekend and a Zimbabwean couple were shot and wounded at their house on 19th Avenue on Monday night.
The 33-year-old man and his 22-year-old girlfriend were both wounded in the upper body and rushed to Charlotte Mxenge Hospital.
