Three foreign nationals killed in South Africa 'revenge attacks'
Specialised units were sent to the Valencia citrus-growing area in the Eastern Cape after the spate of attacks on Sunday and Monday, provincial police said in a statement.
'It is believed that these unlawful acts of revenge attacks began with an incident in which a local resident was allegedly murdered following a fight between a group of local residents and foreign nationals outside a tavern on Saturday,' it said.
Afterwards community members 'took to the streets and reportedly attacked foreign nationals,' it said, adding the attacks were carried out 'randomly'.
Besides the death of the young South African, 'The incident has claimed three lives, and left at least 10 people injured,' the statement said.
Police would not give the nationalities of the foreign nationals killed in the violence but several local media reported they were Zimbabweans.
'We can't assume that they are coming from a certain country,' police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli told AFP.
Reportedly thousands of foreigners were in the area, near Addo about 50km north of Gqeberha, for the citrus-picking season.
More than 100 had taken shelter in a local police station, it said.
Southern Africa's strongest economy draws thousands of foreign nationals seeking work who are regularly targeted with xenophobic harassment, discrimination and even violence.
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By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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