Asians latest victims in South African attacks

Even as the South African government strongly condemned the attacks on foreign nationals, violence continued in Johannesburg for the tenth night in a row with Pakistanis and Chinese becoming the latest victims.

A crowd of people barged in my store and helped themselves to the goods when I opened my shop on Tuesday, a Pakistani businessman said on Wednesday.

"We were taken completely by surprise. We want to appeal to the government to provide us with protection," he added.

Confirming the reports, police spokesperson Govindsamy Marimuthu said a number of shacks have been set alight in an informal settlement near Johannesburg and more than 100 people have been displaced.

He said several more other incidents had been reported in and around Johannesburg.

A number of shops belonging to the Asians were reportedly vandalised in the town of Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, on Tuesday.

More than 22 people have been killed, hundreds injured and about 5 000 people have been left destitute since violence first erupted in the township of Alexandria, near Johannesburg on May 11.

Locals have been targeting Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi nationals for taking their jobs. Meanwhile, veteran anti-apartheid leader and a member of the ruling African National Congress, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela admitting government's inability to create job's caused the problem, said that in no way justified the violence on foreigners.

"What has happened to the foreign nationals is a disgrace. This has to be sorted out soon and the government must urgently attend to the social needs of our people," she said.