Eleven people were arrested in the Free State overnight after three foreign-owned shops were burned down and 27 of them were looted.
Free State police could not clarify if the incidents‚ which took place in Petrus Steyn‚ were xenophobic.
Spokesman Mmako Mophiring on Tuesday said residents began looting and burning down the foreign-owned shops at about 7pm on Monday night. By 5am‚ the situation had calmed down.
Police are currently monitoring the situation.
The country was hit by xenophobic attacks in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal last month‚ which sparked outrage among its continental peers. It was preceded by attacks on foreign-owned shops‚ mainly in Gauteng‚ at the beginning of the year.
The government has since launched the controversial Operation Fiela in a bid to prevent a resurgence of the violence against foreign nationals.
The much-maligned operation is aimed at eradicating criminal elements believed to be a catalyst for xenophobic violence. However‚ critics called it a crackdown on foreigners in townships and city centres after reports that hundreds of migrants were arrested in each raid.
A raid at Johannesburg’s Central Methodist Church two weeks ago — which saw the arrest of hundreds of foreigners — prompted Lawyers For Human Rights to obtain a court order allowing them to access detained foreigners and provide them with legal advice.
However‚ despite their wishes that the government reconsider continuing the sweep operation‚ government leaders insist that Operation Fiela is not going anywhere.
During a briefing on Sunday‚ the interministerial committee on migration said 1‚650 of the 3‚914 people arrested during Operation Fiela were undocumented foreign nationals while the remaining 2‚264 were South African citizens arrested for a number of serious crimes.
Law enforcement and security personnel made arrests for crimes including possession of drugs‚ explosives‚ illegal firearms and smuggling precious metals. Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe said the committee rejected the notion that Operation Fiela targeted foreigners.
“We categorically and publicly denounce that Operation Fiela is targeting foreign nationals. Government will never authorise actions that are contrary to our constitution and the laws of the country‚” Mr Radebe said.
Foreign-owned shops burned and looted in Free State town
Free State police could not clarify if the incidents‚ which took place in Petrus Steyn‚ were xenophobic.
Spokesman Mmako Mophiring on Tuesday said residents began looting and burning down the foreign-owned shops at about 7pm on Monday night. By 5am‚ the situation had calmed down.
Police are currently monitoring the situation.
The country was hit by xenophobic attacks in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal last month‚ which sparked outrage among its continental peers. It was preceded by attacks on foreign-owned shops‚ mainly in Gauteng‚ at the beginning of the year.
The government has since launched the controversial Operation Fiela in a bid to prevent a resurgence of the violence against foreign nationals.
The much-maligned operation is aimed at eradicating criminal elements believed to be a catalyst for xenophobic violence. However‚ critics called it a crackdown on foreigners in townships and city centres after reports that hundreds of migrants were arrested in each raid.
A raid at Johannesburg’s Central Methodist Church two weeks ago — which saw the arrest of hundreds of foreigners — prompted Lawyers For Human Rights to obtain a court order allowing them to access detained foreigners and provide them with legal advice.
However‚ despite their wishes that the government reconsider continuing the sweep operation‚ government leaders insist that Operation Fiela is not going anywhere.
During a briefing on Sunday‚ the interministerial committee on migration said 1‚650 of the 3‚914 people arrested during Operation Fiela were undocumented foreign nationals while the remaining 2‚264 were South African citizens arrested for a number of serious crimes.
Law enforcement and security personnel made arrests for crimes including possession of drugs‚ explosives‚ illegal firearms and smuggling precious metals. Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe said the committee rejected the notion that Operation Fiela targeted foreigners.
“We categorically and publicly denounce that Operation Fiela is targeting foreign nationals. Government will never authorise actions that are contrary to our constitution and the laws of the country‚” Mr Radebe said.
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