Zulus With Spears, Shields Raid Squatter Camp; 7 Die

Mobs with spears battled at this squatter camp Saturday, killing seven people in a confrontation among blacks at the bottom of the ladder in South Africa’s divided society.

Police fired tear gas to stop an attack by several hundred Zulu migrant workers on this camp of cardboard, tin and plastic shacks where more than 30,000 people find shelter.

Squatters wrapped in blankets and holding spears stood sentry in groups after the Zulus retreated to their hostel, one of the grim men-only barracks for provincial guest workers employed in menial jobs in Johannesburg.

Ambulances took the injured to hospitals. Riot police in armored cars pointed shotguns in the direction of the camp and hostel.

“I saw them coming with sticks and assegais (short stabbing spears), 3,000 of them. We didn’t have a chance,” said a man who gave his name as Ish, a 38-year commercial driver.

“I’m worried about what will happen tonight,” he said.

Witnesses said Zulus appeared on a rise above the camp, fanned out and then attacked, lunging with spears and makeshift shields. There was gunfire deep inside the settlement. Squatters began pouring out of the camp.

Hundreds of Phola Park squatters and residents of the nearby Thokoza township fought a pitched battle against the hostel dwellers Wednesday in one of the largest confrontations of South Africa’s week-old hostel war.

The fighting between Zulus opposed to Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress and residents who support the ANC, the main anti-apartheid group, has spread to the giant Soweto township at a cost of more than 210 lives.

Political pundits have said that the current clashes were fueled by competition among the poorest blacks for scarce basic necessities, such as water and electricity.