Johannesburg - Some residents of Alexandra township in Johannesburg on Tuesday welcomed news that the South African National Defence Force would be deployed to help police quell xenophobic violence.
“We are happy about what is going on, I hope the army will make a difference,” an Alexandra resident, who refused to be named, said.
Alexandra was in the spotlight at the weekend when images showing locals beating and stabbing to death Mozambican national Emmanual Sithole made international headlines.
Seven people have died and thousands have been displaced in attacks on foreigners in KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng in recent weeks.
While the South African government has maintained that it is in control of the situation, it announced on Tuesday it would deploy troops to flash points around the country.
“They will be deployed in areas determined by the South African Police Service [SAPS] together with the SANDF in terms of which areas do SAPS require assistance,” SANDF spokesman General Xolani Mabanga told the African News Agency.
The announcement of the troop deployment came a day after a Zimbabwean couple was shot and wounded at their home in 19th Avenue.
Sithole was beaten and stabbed to death in Second Avenue on Saturday.
On Tuesday, Alexandra was relatively calm with most people going about their daily routines, although most people were not prepared to give their names when interviewed by ANA.
A woman, who has a shop along one of the township streets, said: “We are better after the weekend and I’m happy that we are getting help because we are scared and what is going on is wrong.”
A man who has been living in Alex and was getting his hair cut said: “There is no fear of the soldiers, we want them to come work with the police because we are anti xenophobia and want this to stop.”
However, attorney Maesela Kekana said “ I believe the attacks were criminal acts and just people taking advantage of the situation and the deploying of the army is just a political stunt.”
The number of troops to be deployed would not be disclosed “for security reasons” but police would maintain operational control, with the troops only assisting when called on to do so.
ANA