S. Africa: 4,000 Zimbabweans homeless after xenophobia

A year and a half after a wave of xenophobia raged through South Africa, killing over 60 people and leaving close to 100.000 African foreign nationals homeless, xenophobia has erupted in De Doorns, a farmers' settlement 120 km north east of Cape Town.

About 4000 people, mainly Zimbabweans, have been left destitute after angry locals chased them out of the community. It is said that 3000 people are camping out on a local sports field and in a community hall, while another 1000 people are receiving shelter on farms in the area, which mainly grows grapes. The xenophobia flare up was built up last weekend, but exploded early this week when local residents prevented foreigners from climbing onto the trucks that collect seasonal workers for the day. South African farm workers are accusing the African nationals, mainly Zimbabweans, of accepting lower wages than locals and by robbing them of seasonal jobs such as grape harvesting. The harvest is to start in the next coming months. Shacks and make shift homes owned and rented by foreigners were also torn down. Afraid of further repercussions, an initial 1000 African nationals were chased out of De Doorns - a number which has increased to about 4000. According to the red Cross, much help is needed to help the victims. The organisation is looking for baby formula, first aid kits, clothing, blankets, meals, hygiene packs, and fuel for transport and logistical support. In the meantime, it is said that various farmers who helped the displaced African foreign nationals have received threats. The threats came on the same day that the Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana, threatened to come down "like a ton of bricks" on farmers who employed illegal immigrants as they fanned xenophobic violence. "The agricultural sector is tired of always being accused of all kinds of lies without any of these allegations being backed up by fact. These lies are used to cause a commotion and to create perceptions that don't exist," agricultural organisation Agri Western Cape claimed. "The eyes of the world are already on us and attacks on innocent people are definitely not to the advantage of the country's image - and definitely not to the advantage of the image of agriculture." Another farmer was quoted saying that the majority of producers paid their local as well as their foreign employees more than the prescribed wage.