ABSTRACT
On 11 May 2008, Alexandra township witnessed the start of violent attacks against outsiders who some perceived were not South African enough. The extreme violence quickly spread to other provinces and eventually lasted until the end of that month. Those events are remembered as the May 2008 xenophobic riots. Hundreds of homes and shops were looted and burnt. Sixty-two people died across the country, 21 of whom were South African citizens. Many were injured. An estimated 100,000 fled their homes and found refuge wherever they could.
