Violent anti-immigrant protests in Johannesburg, South Africa

(Vatican Radio) South Africa is currently experiencing ongoing violent anti-immigrant protests.  The violence which began two weeks ago has so far claimed 4 lives.  The unrest originally began in the port town of Durban where it is alleged a comment by a community leader regarding immigrants sparked the protests, which have now spread to Johannesburg where police have fired rubber bullets and a stun grenade on Friday to end a stand-off between South Africans and an immigrant vigilante group armed with machetes.

The Director of the Jesuit Institute in Johannesburg Father Russell Pollitt SJ, spoke with Michael Cornell about the situation:

In the interview, Father Russell Pollitt SJ mentions that their is a "growing anger and frustration" with unemployment as well as with the fact that many South Africans are still living in shanty towns and there is a feeling that since "1994, nothing really has changed."  Many of the immigrants currently facing the protests and violence, live in the townships in South Africa and run shops and businesses which have been targeted recently, with some damaged and burned.  

Due to the violent protests, more than 2,000 foreign nationals are currently living in refugee camps on sports fields around the city, afraid to return home.

In response to the ongoing violence, the Malawian government has has hired buses to repatriate 500 of its nationals while Kenya and some other African governments have also offered to evacuate any of their citizens who feel threatened.

The foreign ministry of China reports that Chinese-run shops had been damaged in Johannesburg and the Chinese consulate has lodged a protest with the police and asked that they ensure the safety of Chinese nationals.

Father Russell Pollitt SJ has also issued a public statement made available to Vatican Radio.