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| Victim: A shop owner believed to be from Mozambique (pictured) has died from his injuries amid the xenophobic violence that has gripped South Africa |
A bloody and wounded shop owner has been pictured just moments before he died from his injuries on another day of xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The man who is believed to be from Mozambique was taken to a hospital in Johannesburg where he tragically passed away.
At least six people have been killed and many thousands displaced from their homes since the violence against immigrants erupted in the city of Durban several weeks ago. Despite making 30 arrests overnight, police are struggling to subdue the machete-wielding gangs who ransacked immigrant-owned shops in the slums of Johannesburg.
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| Wounded: Bloodied and wounded, the man was taken to a hospital in Johannesburg where he eventually died |
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| Help: A passer-by comes to the aid of the shop owner who was fatally attacked in poor area of Johannesburg and later died in hospital |
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| Dying: He is one of at least six who have been killed in the country this week as armed gangs target foreigners in a spate of xenophobic attacks |
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| Looted: A woman sifts through the remains of the ransacked store she was renting to foreign nationals who are now being targeted by violent groups in Johannesburg |
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| Attacks: At least six people have been killed and many thousands displaced from their homes since the violence against immigrants erupted in the city of Durban several weeks ago |
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| Violent: Gangs of anti-immigrant protesters armed with hammers, knives and machetes have been reeking havoc in South Africa |
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| Scorched: 12 people were arrested overnight as anti-foreigner attacks in South Africa spread to parts of Johannesburg where rioters torched tires (pictured) |
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| Dangerous: Despite making 30 arrests overnight, police have struggled to control the gangs who have torched cars and shops owned by foreign nationals |
There was a heavy police presence in the Alexandra township as armed rioters looted shops, burned tires and built street barricades overnight. Armed policeman fired rubber bullets at the groups who have torched shops and cars in the poor areas of Johannesburg in recent days. Police claim that attacks on immigrants - many of whom are from other African countries - have largely subsided in the country's east where the violence began. Some South Africans have accused the immigrants of taking jobs and opportunities away from them in a country crippled by unemployment.
A police spokesman said the 30 people arrested in Johannesburg overnight will be charged for 'public violence, malicious damage to property, house breaking and theft'. Thousands of foreigners in the country have fled their homes and the country amid the violence, escaping to makeshift camps as well as neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique. The surge of violence against immigrants is widely blamed on a speech made by King Goodwill Zwelithini, a traditional Zulu leader. He blamed the foreigners living South Africa for its high crime rate and said they must 'take their bags and go'.
The king has since said his words were misinterpreted but for some, Zwelithini simply articulated what many were feeling. It has also been blamed on high unemployment and while recent figures put it at 25 per cent, economists believe it is much higher and crippling the country with widespread poverty and a glaring class divide.
Meanwhile foreign nationals have condemned South Africa's police for failing to protect them and even stirring hostility. The government says it is addressing complaints about undocumented migrants but many foreign nationals are living legally in South Africa and contributing to economic development.
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| Protest: South African demonstrators have taken to the streets in Johannesburg in a bid to raise awareness of the xenophobic attacks taking place in its township |
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| Furious: And in neighbouring Mozambique, hundreds have been protesting the violence being inflicted on their countrymen in South Africa |
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| Safety: As people in Maputo, Mozambique (pictured) protest against the violence in South Africa, its government has offered to evacuate its citizens from the country |
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| Demonstrators: Some South Africans (pictured) have tried to raise awareness for the xenophobic violence but some blame the immigrants for taking jobs in a time of severe unemployment |
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| Rise up: Mozambique nationals (pictured) are furious at the violence against their citizens in Johannesburg were four people were killed in a week where shops owned by foreigners were looted back in January |
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| Blame: Protesters in Mozambique (pictured) hold up signs blaming South African President Jacob Zuma for the violence befalling immigrants in the country |
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| Armed: At least six people have died since South Africans wielding machetes and other weapons (pictured) began attacking and looting properties owned by fellow Africans |
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| Brutal: The surge of violence against immigrants is widely blamed on a speech made by a traditional Zulu leader who blamed foreigners for a rise in hate crime |
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| Response: Police in Johannesburg (pictured) have been firing rubber bullets to subdue the violent gangs in the city |
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| Battle: A South African police officer trains his sights on Zulu protesters who were demonstrated in front of their hostel in the Jeppestown district of Johannesburg (pictured) |
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| Retaliation: But police also claim that attacks on immigrants - many of whom are from other African countries - have largely subsided |
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| Furious: A terrifying woman covered in black soot (pictured) began screaming at a group of foreign nationals in Johannesburg |
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| Savage: Rioters have armed themselves with sticks, knives and baseball bats as they attack immigrants in Johannesburg (pictured) |
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| Rioters: The violence in South Africa has also been blamed on high unemployment and a glaring class divide |
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| Vicious: With a total population of about 50 million, South Africa is home to an estimated 5 million immigrants who are now being targeted by brutal gangs (pictured) |
But the situation has become so severe that the government of Malawi has hired buses to repatriate 500 of its nationals, according to the country's Information Minister. Kenya has also offered to evacuate any of their citizens who feel threatened and on just today, Mozambique has temporarily blocked a road leading to South Africa.
60 people died during similar unrest in the country in 2008 and in January this year, four people were killed in a week where shops owned by foreigners were looted in Soweto, Johannesburg. With a total population of about 50 million, South Africa is home to an estimated 5 million immigrants from countries including Somalia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Malawi.
- Daily Mail, UK
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