Skip Navigation

January 2012 Volume 39, Southern Africa

Construction workers attacked and robbed while sleeping

By Special correspondent   Wed, Feb 01, 2012

Eight foreign nationals were injured in an assault, five of them critically, in Doornkuil on Wednesday, Johannesburg emergency management services said.

“They were sleeping when about five young guys carrying knobkerries and clubs came into their shack and attacked and robbed them. They were badly, badly beaten,” spokesman Robert Mulaudzi said.

The attack on the men, from Zimbabwe and Malawi, happened around 2am.

They were taken by ambulance to Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital.

It was suspected that the attack could have been xenophobia-related as the men were working for a construction company in the area, said Mulaudzi.

“We are not sure whether it is a xenophobic-related or a criminal activity. Police were notified and are investigating.”   

In May 2008, 62 people were killed and around 150,000 displaced in an outbreak of xenophobic protests. The assailants were violently protesting against the presence of foreigners in South Africa, claiming they took away their jobs, among other things.

Police were not immediately able to confirm the attack.

By Special correspondent

Please login to post your comments.