Gauteng Departments form a Joint Operation Centre for Alex crisis 15 May 2008 Gauteng Provincial Government departments have formed a Joint Operation Centre to deal with the situation in Alexandra Township following the violence and xenophobic attacks in the area. "The centre will deal with the humanitarian side of things while we are still trying to bring calm and support to the displaced people," said Gauteng Housing MEC Nomvula Mokonyane at the media briefing in Alexandra on Thursday. The visit of six Gauteng MECs Paul Mashatile, Nomvula Mokonyane, Firoz Cachalia, Barbara Creecy, Kgaogelo Lekgoro, Ignatius Jacobs and the African National Congress National Executive Committee member Winnie Madikizela-Mandela came three days after the eruption of violence and xenophobic attacks in Alexandra Township , north of Johannesburg . The MECs visited the area to asses the situation and to see what can be done to restore the situation to its normality. Finance MEC Paul Mashatile condemned the violence, saying whatever grievances people have there is no justification for violence and raping of women. "We want to put it strongly that no one has a right to take law into their own hands and evict people from their houses. This kind of criminality will not be allowed," said Mashatile. He said this was crime more than anything else as people of Alex had lived for so many years in peace. Madikizela-Mandela and the MECs visited the family of Vukeuma Nguenya who was killed outside his home during the attacks on Sunday. "I am so sorry. I just want you to know that is not all South Africans that are like this. Government will do everything in its power to see that stability is restored here," said Madikizela-Mandela. Further, government has also secured accommodation for the scores of displaced foreigners seeking shelter at the Alexandra Police Station. A Zimbabwean, Regina Dube said she has lived in Alexandra for 13 years without any such incident. "Now I am scared of the people I have lived with for so many years. I want to return home but I don't have enough money, however I have already taken some of my remaining belongs to Zimbabwe ," said Dube. More than 65 people have been arrested and appeared in court in connection with the violence and attacks. Mashatile stressed that police were on top of the situation. Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
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