Extensive investigations had confirmed that the attacks were economically motivated and should not be attributed to xenophobic sentiments toward Somalis in South Africa, Rasool said.

"Ten is still a tragedy but it certainly isn't anything like ethnic cleansing."

He warned about the "dangerous and misleading" implications of labelling the attacks as ethnic cleansing, as recently suggested by Western Cape Somali community secretary Mohamed Mahat Hassan.

Community Safety MEC Leonard Ramatlakane said investigations had shown that the motives were "criminal intent and robbery".

The government had launched efforts to promote dialogue and co-operation among Somali and South African vendor communities.

Ramatlakane told the Cape Argus that forums and joint committees in Masiphumelele and Thembalethu in George had been created for vendors and shopkeepers that would help them share resources and business practices, as a way of opening positive channels between the two communities.

"South Africans can learn a lot from our brothers and sisters from the continent," Ramatlakane said.

Somali shopkeepers tended to be creative in their business practices and had enjoyed much success as a result.

They met their customers' needs by selling them exactly what they desired - for example, if a customer needed sugar but could not afford an entire packet, they had no hesitation in selling them a cupful, or just a teaspoon of coffee.

The government had also been working in Somali refugee camps to provide business owners with the proper documentation needed to open bank accounts.

Many Somali business owners do not have access to banks and are forced to keep large sums of money, making them targets of robbery and violent crime.

"We have had multiple discussions with Somalis to help them understand that they are not a (xenophobic) target," Ramatlakane said.

Source: Cape Argus, Sept 15, 2006