South African soldiers shot and killed a man in a slum area east of Johannesburg during operations to support police to quell anti-immigrant violence.
The man was shot after he pointed a firearm at a soldier yesterday evening in the East Rand area of the city.
The man was allegedly assaulting a woman when he was confronted by the soldier.
Troops were deployed in support of police during search and seizure operations during which an unspecified number of arrests were made.
Soldiers deployed on Johannesburg's streets on Thursday for the first time to help stem the tide of violence that has seen mobs of armed youths attack foreigners in poor areas around the city.
About 200 soldiers assisted police with morning arrest and search operations in central Johannesburg on Thursday and they deployed again yesterday in support of the police.
President Thabo Mbeki bowed to pressure to call in troops on Wednesday after a request from the police force, which has been overwhelmed by the unrest that has spread to seven of the country’s nine provinces.
Foreigners in South Africa, many of whom have fled economic meltdown in neighbouring Zimbabwe, are being blamed for sky-high crime rates and depriving locals of jobs.
