Can Mbeki now recognise a crisis?

The bone of contention centred on the buying and selling business and hawking, which, it was alleged, was being dominated by "foreigners" at the disadvantage of the locals, especially since such a business enterprise does not require any academic qualifications and, therefore, is a potential source of income for poor marginalised locals. There were murders, assaults and arson but the authorities managed to somehow contain the explosive situation.

About two weeks ago, the simmering discontent erupted again but this time in Johannesburg's poor suburbs and shanty towns. A week later, it spread to the whole of the Johannesburg area, including Germiston, Alexandra, Hillbrow, Ekurhuleni in Boksburg, Thembisa, Thokoza and the East Rand areas leaving more than 20 people dead, scores injured and hundreds without homes.