Thousands of South Africans have begun a march in the capital, Pretoria, to protest against the high crime rate in the country.

Popular actor and comedian Desmond Dube said he was inspired to organise the event, called the "Million Man March", after a neighbour was shot dead.

The organisers say they will hand a petition to the presidency.

The march comes a day Mbeki condemns anti-foreigner violence ...
S Africa 'will protect migrants' ...
Mbeki meets Mugabe ...
S Africa 'must fight xenophobia' ...
AU tells Zimbabwe, release results ... after local reggae singer Tiny Motho Siluma was shot dead outside his home.

He is the latest in a number of high-profile murders.

In October last year there was outrage when the famous reggae artist Lucky Dube was also shot dead in Johannesburg. He was attacked by armed robbers in a suburb of the city.

The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Pretoria says so far between 5,000 and 6,000 people have gathered for the march. Police have closed off streets in the city centre.

Xenophobic attacks

South African President Thabo Mbeki has vowed to crack down on crime.

Figures released last year - from April to September 2007 - showed a slight decrease compared to the same period last year.

However, there were still nearly 9,000 murders in those six months.

Correspondents say the fight against crime is one of the big challenges facing the South African government.

The country's many migrants, the recent victims of xenophobic attacks, are frequently blamed by local people for much of South Africa's crime.

More than 50 people were killed in a wave of attacks on foreigners last month.

Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula told the BBC 56 people had been killed and more than 650 injured. More than 30,000 had been displaced or forced from their homes.

Robberies and car-jackings are often accompanied by extreme violence involving guns.

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(BBC)

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