The xenophobic violence in Ekurhuleni has forced the Karate Organisation of South Africa (Matsushima group) to move their grading on Saturday from Leondale to Spruitview.

The xenophobic violence in Ekurhuleni has forced the Karate Organisation of South Africa (Matsushima group) to move their grading on Saturday from Leondale to Spruitview.

"The initial plan was to take them to Leondale Hall but had to change because of the attacks on foreign nationals," said branch chief Shihan Peter "Poison" Thage.

"As a result of the municipality and other community organisations using the hall as a shelter for the foreign nationals, we are moving to the Spruitview Dojo.

"We could not postpone the gradings because the karateka had already made arrangements well in advance."

Thage said they were expecting about 100 karateka from Gauteng and North West to participate in the grading, including prison inmates from Johannesburg and Boksburg prisons. - Ramatsiyi Moholoa