Threat of xenophobia sinks in

Alex Eliseev I 702 Eyewitness News I As South Africa wakes up to a World Cup-free day, threats of xenophobic attacks come into focus. The Police Ministry is downplaying the threats as attempts to steal the thunder from a successful tournament. But out on the streets of townships, foreigners have been told to leave or die.The threats of xenophobic violence have been growing louder as the World Cup has drawn to an end. Now that it is over, the fear foreigners have felt will become real as they wait and see what happens. But Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said xenophobic mayhem will not happen and he encouraged South Africans to stand against it.“Our humanity his being attacked and we must raise as a nation. We are projected as savages which we are not” said Mthethwa. He said the resources made available for the World Cup will be ready for any violence that erupts.  Over 60 people were killed when xenophobic attacks broke out across South Africa in 2008. Meanwhile, Western Cape officials are being cagey about reports of attacks on foreigners. In Phillipi, Somalian families were allegedly forced to flee on Sunday night when locals started breaking down their shops and threatened to kill them. There were also apparently incidents in Khayelitsha, Gugulethu and parts of the Boland.