By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Police have arrested at least six people for leading and taking part in the Operation Dudula campaign targeting illegal foreign nationals in Alexandra.
They are reportedly part of a group of residents who attacked foreign nationals on Monday.
Several people were injured on Monday when clashes broke out between street vendors and members of the Alexandra Dudula Movement near the Pan Africa Mall in the township.
The district police commissioner of the Johannesburg cluster, Major General Max Masha, said they don’t tolerate lawlessness.
On Tuesday, five suspects linked to the Dudula Movement were arrested outside the Pan Africa Mall.
“Today, as our investigation continues, we have arrested a total of six people. We believe that these arrests will bring stability and calmness in Alexandra.
“A multi-disciplinary team has been working all night and this morning. We once again deployed officers on the ground to ensure that our people were safe. I can report that people are safe and can go to work and school.
“Since this morning, the area has been relatively quiet. There were incidents where they tried to burn tyres, but police cleared them,” said Masha.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International South Africa said the lack of urgent action by the authorities against vigilante groups demanding that foreign shop owners close their doors in Alexandra has resulted in impunity and a continuation of the violation of human rights.
Amnesty International South Africa’s Executive Director Shenilla Mohamed said citizens cannot take the law into their own hands.
“It is astounding that these groups have been allowed to take the law into their own hands and that authorities have not stepped in to stop the harassment of migrants. This did not only start this week, but has been an ongoing problem.”
Mohamed said law and order must be restored in Alexandra.
“Police need to take action against these vigilante groups who are violating people’s rights to safety, security, dignity and life, and fuelling xenophobia, otherwise the message being sent is that it is acceptable for these illegal operations to continue.”
Amnesty International said it previously highlighted how past acts of violence, including the killing of foreign nationals during xenophobic violence have gone unpunished, leading to an entrenched culture of impunity.