JOHANNESBURG. July 6: Rival black groups (ought a virtual war tn townships around South Africa. bringing the death toll in four days of carnage to at ktwl 130 people, police said to day. reports AFP.

Troop reinforcements flooded into Thokoza and Kathlehong townships south of Johannesburg. where at least 69 people have been shot or burnt to death in running battles si ix e Friday

The carnage erupted Friday, when Thokoza township dwellers clashed with residents of stngle-aex migrant labour hostels, barely hours after South Africa's democracy negotiators set the seal on April 27. 1994, as the date for the country's first non-racial election.

The fighting flared through to neighbouring Kathlehong and

IntensifkM Monday when rest dents laid siege to a hostel.

By mid-day today the areas was quieter but tense as police mow'd through the townships and collected 36 bodies, victims of the previous night's fighting.

Sporadic gunbattles throughout Monday escalated sharply after night fall. In one of the worst attacks, five people were killed and two people were injured when gunmen ambushed a minibus taxi on a bridge leading into Kathlehong.

At least 14 houses were razed. cars were set alight and streets were barricaded with boulders and burning tyres, crirnlnaJs took advantage of the chaos looting homes and shops, police said.

Train .services were halted between the city and the town ship* and police declared roads In the area a nonzone for motorist»

Police spokeswonian lieutenant Janine Smith said the fighting appeared to be be tween the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFF) and the African National Congress (ANC) supporters battling for territory In Kathlehong and Thokoza.