South Africa shops looted despite Zuma call for peace

A standoff developed in the city, with police forming a barrier between an angry crowd and foreign-owned shops.

The violence comes despite Thursday's rally against xenophobia in the coastal city of Durban, and condemnation from President Jacob Zuma.

At least five people have died in anti-foreigner attacks in recent weeks.

Migrants, mostly from other African states and Asia, have moved to South Africa in large numbers since white-minority rule ended in 1994.

Jeppestown, Johannesburg: "They say that foreigners are taking their jobs"

Many South Africans accuse them of taking jobs in a country where the unemployment rate is 24%.

A crowd began looting foreign-owned shops in east Johannesburg on Thursday night. About about 200 foreigners took refuge at a police station.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the looters and arrested 12 people.

A new standoff began in the eastern suburb of Jeppestown on Friday, as police sought to prevent people from attacking more shops.

 Police used rubber bullets to disperse a group of migrants in Johannesburg who had armed themselves with machetes for protection.

Some immigrants were seen armed with machetes

Credit: BBC