Reuters

Thousands flee South African mobs

Updated 17.36 Thu May 22 2008

More than 10,000 immigrants from Mozambique have fled South Africa to escape xenophobic attacks.

Mob violence against African migrants has claimed 42 lives, driven at least 15,000 people from their homes and prompted thousands to return to neighbouring countries.

"The number is likely to increase in the next days as long as violence unfolds in South Africa" - Leonardo Boby

Mozambique's Deputy Immigration Director Leonardo Boby said 10,047 migrant workers had returned home in buses provided by the Mozambique government.

He added: "The number is likely to increase in the next days as long as violence unfolds in South Africa."

Armed mobs have accused immigrants, mostly from Mozambique and Zimbabwe, of stealing jobs and fuelling crime.

Soldiers backed police in early morning raids in Johannesburg, and air force helicopters patrolled Alexandra township after President Thabo Mbeki approved army intervention to help end unrest that has threatened to destabilise Africa's largest economy.

Kgalema Motlanthe, the deputy leader of South Africa's ruling African National Congress party, criticised the police delay in responding to the violence which erupted in Alexandra township on May 11.

He said: "The delay encouraged people in similar environments to wage similar attacks against people who came from our sister countries on the continent.

"We are confronted by one of the ugliest incidents in the post-apartheid era".

South Africa has a population of about 50 million and is home to an estimated five million immigrants, most of them from Zimbabwe.

But the country's reputation as a haven for immigrants is in tatters, and there are fears the crisis could dent the country's lucrative tourism industry and cripple its hosting of the 2010 football World Cup.