At least 48 arrested for xenophobic violence

Briefing reporters in Cape Town with a video-link to Pretoria, she said that government was concerned about the ongoing violence taking place in the province.

 

"The Justice, Crime Prevention, and Security Cluster (JCPS) notes with deep concern the incidents of violence unfolding in our country and we want to assert government's position that any lawlessness will not be tolerated," she said.

 

"Government will not hesitate to enforce the laws of the country."

 

On Tuesday, police confirmed that a 14-year-old boy was shot and killed in Ntuzuma, near KwaMashu in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday night.

 

Police spokesperson Colonel Jay Naicker said the information they had indicated that the boy had been shot and was taken to a nearby clinic where he succumbed to his injuries.

 

Food and other support for foreigners

 

He said the police would investigate if the killing was linked to xenophobic violence in the area.

 

The boy was shot in a road where residents were looting a shop and News24 journalists fired upon.

 

Mapisa-Nqakula said the recent spate of attacks in some parts of KwaZulu-Natal must be condemned in the strongest terms.

 

"The constitution of our country protects the rights of all people living in our country, South Africans and foreigners alike," she said,

 

"Government will do everything within the law to ensure their safety irrespective of their status."

 

She said President Jacob Zuma had assigned the police, state security and home affairs ministries to work with the KwaZulu-Natal government to stop the violence that had broke out in the province.

 

Additional law enforcement officers had been deployed from around the country in KwaZulu-Natal to prevent further attacks.

 

Government was also working with United Nations agencies and NGOs to provide food and other support to foreigners affected by the violence.