E/CN.4/1999/15/Add.1 page 18 control (the sale of identity papers, the theft of goods belonging to repatriated illegal persons). 66. Another indication of the climate of violence towards immigrants is the fact that the SANDF is involved in the campaign against illegal immigration, and constantly calls for tougher measures to reduce the influx of illegal persons (border patrols are not sufficient), particularly the extension and reconnection in “fatal” mode (33 000 volts) of the electrified fence along the northern border. C. A xenophobia towards Blacks 67. Research shows that since the 1994 elections xenophobia towards immigrants, particularly Africans, has increased steadily among the population, both Black and White 9/. It is evident in the common tongue, where the contemptuous terms “amakwerewere”, “amagrigamba” and “amagongogo” (wogs) are used to designate foreigners 10/, and in the press, which holds illegal immigrants responsible for all the troubles of South African society (criminality, drugs, etc.). The “ invasion by immigrants “ syndrome well known in Europe and America can be found in South Africa, where it feeds into every fear, appearing as “Swart gevart” (the black peril, in Afrikaans) in the section of the press which still clings to the old ideas about Africans. In addition, the South African police encourage an atmosphere of manhunt and incrimination. Xenophobia is particularly prevalent in Gauteng (especially in Johannesburg, whose Hill Brow district is entirely occupied by foreigners of all nationalities), Mpumalanga and Cape provinces. 68. Foreigners suspected either rightly or wrongly of being illegal persons have been the victims of attacks, as in Alexandra township, near Johannesburg, in December 1994 and January 1995. For several weeks, gangs of South Africans fought violently to expel “illegal persons” accused of crimes, sex attacks, being unemployed and all kinds of social misdemeanours. That campaign, called “Buyelekhaya”(go home) was reportedly led by members of the ANC, the South African Communist Party, the South African National Civic Organization, the Concerned Residents Group of Alexandra and the Alexandra Property Owners Association 11/. The main targets of operation “Buyelekhaya” were Mozambicans, 9/ See Human Rights Watch, “Prohibited persons”. Abuse of undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in South Africa, New York, London, March 1998, 236 p. A survey in October 1995 by the Centre for Socio-political Analysis of the Human Sciences Research Council shows that 68 % of South Africans are in favour of a more radical policy on illegal immigrants, which indicates growing negative feelings towards prohibited persons since the 1994 elections in all linguistic groups. Moreover, 55% of those who support a stricter policy on illegal persons state that the reason for their position is that the former are taking jobs from them and are responsible for South Africa’s growing crime rate. 10/ These terms are used especially in the province of Gauteng, South Africa’s largest urban area, which contains Johannesburg; “amagongogo” refers particularly to people from West Africa. 11/ Human Rights Watch, Prohibited Persons…, op. Cit., p. 135.