"Death to America" is the chant as an angry crowd of protestors marches through the town. In 1998 there were 66 bomb blasts, 12 petrol bomb attacks and 4 hand grenade drops. Many have been attributed to Pagad, a predominantly Muslim organisation waging a war against gangsterism and drugs. Muslims Against Global Oppression are also active here: it was them who first claimed responsibility for an attack on Planet Hollywood. But the link between these organisations and the huge number of bombing incidents is not proven. The police point to what they say is the tell-tale use of pipebombs which are common to many attacks. But the evidence remains tenuous. Pagad is highly critical of police action, they believe they are victims of a smear campaign. Other Muslims are trying to distance themselves from the trouble. A local community leader is disappointed that so many ordinary Muslims cannot dissociate themselves from the groups because of fear of intimidation. In the meantime the Muslim community feel they are being held hostage by the violence of a few. In the local Mosque worshippers say the same thing. "Islam is not a violent religion."

Produced by SABC Special Assignment