Xenophobia violence re-erupts in South Africa

Sporadic xenophobia violence flared up again in Durban, South Africa, on Tuesday despite relative calm in other places.

Some local South Africans attacked foreigners who wanted to reopen their businesses in Isipingo where the latest round of violence first erupted in late March, police spokesperson Daniel Dunia said.

Some shops were looted and some locals went to foreigner's homes, locking and chasing them out and taking their belongings, said the spokesperson.

Some foreigners were beaten up by the mobs, Dunia added.

Dunia urged foreigners to stay in their camp and not to return to their homes at present as the situation remained tense.

Authorities have set up three camps, including the Isipingo camp, in Durban to house thousands of foreigners displaced by the violence.

"The problem in the camp is that people are not ready to go back to the community because of what is still happening even today," he said.

In a related development, the Zimbabwean embassy in South Africa has repatriated 407 of the country's nationals who wanted to return home since Sunday, embassy official Tamuka Muranga said.

"So far, since Sunday evening, 407 have left," Muranga told the African News Agency. "But that is not a final figure as there may be more wishing to go. The process is not complete."

Muranga said Zimbabwean ambassador Isaac Moyo was in Durban talking to Zimbabwean expatriates about their concerns in the wake of the attacks which has left at least seven dead and displaced thousands in the past three weeks.

In other areas, relative calm returned, with no reports about looting of foreign-owned shops or clashes between locals and foreigners, police said.

In central Johannesburg, a hot bed of violence, some shops re- opened under the protection of police. Endi