Death Toll Climbs In SA Violence

[Bob30]

South Africa has given fresh figures on the numbers of people killed and displaced by the wave of attacks on foreigners over the past two weeks.

Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula told the BBC 56 people had been killed and more than 650 injured. Previously, 50 deaths were reported.

More than 30,000 had been displaced or forced from their homes, he said.

Other organisations said this was a gross under-estimation and that at least 80,000 had been displaced.

Mr Nqakula added that more than 1,300 arrests had been made and special courts had been set up to deal with the situation.

Aid agencies say large numbers of Zimbabweans have been leaving for Zambia, with others heading for Mozambique and Botswana.

On Sunday, South African President Thabo Mbeki denounced the anti-immigrant violence as a disgrace that had blemished the name of South Africa.

'Under control'

Mr Mbeki chaired a meeting of a government task force on Monday to discuss the crisis.


Some 20,000 Mozambicans have fled South Africa