JOHANNESBURG Migrant workers try to extinguish a fire in the Ramaphosa settlement near Johannesburg, above, after attacks that have killed at least 24 people in a week in South Africa.

The violence spread to the volatile Zulu heartland of the country yesterday and President Mbeki approved the use of troops to restore calm. The attacks on African immigrants, accused by many poor South Africans of taking scarce jobs and raising crime levels, have forced thousands of people to leave their homes and has affected the currency.

About six immigrants were wounded in an overnight attack on a Nigerian-owned tavern in the port city of Durban, media in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province said. The Zulu-based Inkatha Freedom Party said that it showed the anti-foreigner violence had spread to the province Essop Phahad, a senior aide to President Mbeki, said that police, defence and justice departments were discussing whether to send in troops. Police have already asked the army for equipment to help to combat the violence in the townships. The UN International Organisation for Migration said that about 13,000 people had been displaced by the attacks. (Reuters/AFP)

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