Five people were killed and 50 more were injured on Sunday when xenophobic attacks spread to Cleveland, Johannesburg police said.

After a visit to the central business district yesterday, Gauteng DA leader Jack Bloom warned the situation there was "unsettled".

"There were clashes at the Central Methodist Church where many Zimbabweans have taken shelter."

Metro police spokesperson Wayne Minnaar said on SABC radio that motorists should avoid certain CBD areas.

In the vibrant cosmopolitan area of Hillbrow, there was a heavy police presence after residents pounced on foreigners selling goods on the streets, police spokesperson Govindsamy Mariemuthoo said.

Police spokesperson Captain Cheryl Engelbrecht said the Cleveland violence started about 01:00.

Foreigners, mainly Zimbabweans, were attacked at the Cleveland informal settlement.

"Two people were burnt and three people were beaten to death.

"Fifty others were taken to various hospitals for gunshot and stab wounds.

Speaking in Pretoria yesterday, Zuma said: "We cannot allow South Africa to be famous for xenophobia.

"We cannot be a xenophobic country," he said.

He could not understand how people could attack foreigners when ANC members had sought refuge in neighbouring countries.

Engelbrecht said about 300 people are seeking refuge at the Cleveland police station.

According to police, several shops were vandalised and goods were stolen.

"The situation is very tense at the moment and the police are monitoring the area," said Engelbrecht.

Cleveland is a suburb on the main railway route to the East Rand, and is situated near the crossing of the N3 highway to Durban and the busy M2 elevated freeway to the inner city.

People lined Jules Street yesterday afternoon, ululating as vans carrying goods for foreign nationals passed through, a Sapa journalist reported from the scene.

There had also been reports that cars had been torched.

The DA's Jack Bloom said that today he would request the Gauteng Legislature Speaker to call a snap debate "on the spreading wave of xenophobic attacks in the province".

"This clearly has the potential to get out of hand as the violence in Alexandra has been followed by attacks on foreigners in Diepsloot, Ivory Park and various parts of the East Rand, including Thokoza, Tembisa and Primrose."

This was a law and order issue in the first instance, "but we also need to see a proper plan by the provincial government to rectify underlying grievances", said Bloom.

Nampa-Sapa

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