₦airaland Forum

Nine people have been arrested after a weekend of violence and police raids in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, which has rendered several families homeless.

One person was charged with arson while the others were charged for illegal drug dealings.

A Nigerian man said, We support the cleanup but we are appealing to the community not take the law into their hands. We had series of meetings with our people to stop drug houses, prostitution as well as changing their businesses. We support what is happening and we want to clean up the community because our children are growing up here.

The protest was targeted at African immigrants in the neighborhood. Most of the people affected are Nigerians, Malawians, Mozambicans, and Zimbabweans.

Many blamed the violent protests on Mayor Herman Mashaba’s recent raid in Rosettenville.

Mayor Herman Mashaba, together with MMC for Safety and Security, Michael Sun, and MMC for Development Planning, Fundi Mgobeni, joined police in leading the raid.

During the raid, Mashaba said they were there to send a signal to criminal elements that “we are declaring war on you”.

The violent protests in the area over drugs and prostitution that has resulted in more than 10 houses believed to be drug dens being torched on Saturday.

Author: Adekunle Samuel Owolabi
http://www.nigeriansinsouthafrica.co.za/2017/02/13/weekend-of-xenophobia-and-violence-in-south-africa/