After arrests and police crackdowns in Zimbabwe, another neighbouring country of Namibia needed a police contingent in urban areas. While South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki flew to Washington for talks with George W. Bush, police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades on Monday to quell township rioting in Cape Town suburbs. Mbeki has expressed concern that the riots which last week rocked 3 Cape Town townships, Port Elizabeth and shantytowns in at least 3 other provinces could pose a threat to national stability. About 150 rioters in Kommetjie burned tyres and threw stones at oncoming cars after a local official turned up to discuss their demands for better housing. South Africa has a lingering housing problem with at least 7.35 million people who live in shacks with no amenities.

Riots started after growing frustration with the local government’s failure to provide better housing and other basic services after 11 years of ANC rule. Intelligence ministry spokeswoman Lorna Daniels said her ministry had
ordered the probe at the request of politicians who were concerned that the
township violence may have been instigated by a "third force", according to Radio SA FM.