Strong reactions, anger trail xenophobic attacks in South Africa. 800 Zimbabweans displaced. 1 dead

Strong reactions, anger trail xenophobic attacks in South Africa. 800 Zimbabweans displaced. 1 dead.

Strong reactions are trailing the xenophobic attacks raging in South Africa. The Durban violence outbreak follows similar violence in Soweto where foreign shops were looted and foreigners displaced three weeks ago. The attacks started after Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini said in a public speech that foreigners in South Africa should return to their countries and the remarks were widely viewed as having sparked the xenophobic attacks.

In 2008, in the worst violence to date against foreigners, over a dozen people were killed — some burnt alive through neck-lacing, a barbaric, painful slow-killing method in which a burning tyre, filled with petrol, is placed around one’s neck. At the time, the then South African president Mbeki, horrified by the violence, said South Africans’ heads were “bowed in shame.”

Video of the attacks have gone viral. The Biafran obtained a video shot in Durban where a man was being necklaced and another where a man was being stoned to death.

The Nigerian Government has become the latest in condemning the attacks directed at migrants and migrant workers, especially of African origin. 

South African High Commission in Abuja

The attacks according to the reports began two weeks ago with locals attacking and looting properties owned by fellow Africans, including Nigerians. 

The attacks have led to the death of five people including a 14 year old, and the displacement of over 2000. 

The statement from the Nigerian government reads that it "has received reports of xenophobic attacks in South Africa by South Africans. The people and Government of Nigeria stand in solidarity with the rest of the world to condemn these unprovoked attacks on fellow Africans who have left their countries to seek greener pastures and better live hood for themselves. 

"The Government of Nigeria would like to use this medium to reiterate its abhorrence of violence and also stand firm in its conviction that no cause could justify taking innocent lives. 

"The Federal Government therefore call on the government of South Africa to live up to its responsibilities and take all necessary steps to stop the on-going xenophobic attacks and put in place policies and structures to prevent a re-occurrence. 

"It is gratifying to note, however, that the South African President has condemned the attack. In addition, the city of urban has also organized rallies against xenophobia.

The Zanu-PF-led Zimbabwean government has also condemned the attack. One Zimbabwean died in the escalating xenophobic attacks in Durban, South Africa, as the Zimbabwean government yesterday set up an inter-ministerial team to facilitate the immediate return of those displaced by the attacks. 

Video of an attack in Durban

ZANU PF  called for the immediate cessation of xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals saying the continued violence makes a mockery of the persistent calls for unity in the SADC region.

In a statement, ZANU PF national spokesperson Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo said the escalating xenophobic attacks were an anti-thesis of the current good relations existing between Zimbabwe and South Africa which were further cemented by recent successful signing of various economic agreements by the two countries.

“ZANU PF is alarmed by the xenophobic violence perpetrated on foreign nationals including hundreds of Zimbabweans living in South Africa. Our President, Cde R.G Mugabe recently concluded a very successful state visit to South Africa where a number of important agreements to advance our economies were signed. None was signed to promote xenophobia,” said Ambassador Moyo.

He said South Africa has an obligation according to the Vienna Declaration to ensure that it protect the lives of all foreign nationals.

Zimbabwean, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said in a statement yesterday that reports indicated that the attacks were serious and close to 800 Zimbabweans had been displaced and fled to a camp established in Chatsworth, Durban.

“So far, it has been established that one Zimbabwean has died,” he said.

“As a result of these reports, Government decided that those Zimbabweans wishing to return home be facilitated to do so immediately.

“An inter-ministerial team has been put together at both ministerial and senior official level. The team is expeditiously putting in place the logistics as well as the resources necessary for this exercise in close liaison with the Zimbabwean Ambassador in South Africa and his staff.”

Minister Mumbengegwi said a number of Zimbabweans had expressed their wish to return home to embassy officials who visited Durban to assess the situation and discovered that it was tense.

This came as South African ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Vusi Mavimbela said in an interview yesterday that his country lacked the capacity to deal with the flurry of xenophobic attacks targeting foreigners.

“The police, really, to be honest, if this thing spreads, the police don’t have the physical capacity to be everywhere and to arrest everybody who is involved,” he said.

“I know you watch South African TV you see things like service delivery protests that happen, flare up all the time in South Africa and the police have never been able to contain it.

“This xenophobic thing that is happening in South Africa you know if its spreading the police are going to be spread thin all the time and they can’t be at every informal settlement.”

President Jacob Zuma

Mr Mavimbela said the South African government needed to come up with a holistic approach in addressing socio-economic issues and immigration laws to reduce the competition for resources between South Africans and foreigners.

He spoke as the SA government warned foreigners against retaliating.

Meanwhile President Jacob Zuma issued strong words against the attacks on Thursday. The president condemned the spate of attacks on foreigners in Durban and other areas, calling it "shocking and unacceptable".

He was spoke in a National Assembly session set aside for answering follow-up questions from various MPs.

"We condemn the violence in the strongest possible terms. The attacks violate all the values that South Africa embodies, especially the respect for human life, human rights, human dignity and ubuntu," he said.

"Our country stands firmly against all intolerances such as racism, xenophobia, homophobia and sexism."

He appealed for calm and an end to violence, warning that the police would crack down on those who defied the law.

Following Zuma's statement on xenophobia, opposition party leaders on the podium condemned attacks on foreign nationals.

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba also came out strongly against the attacks, saying most foreign nationals contributed positively to the country.

He said many foreigners healed citizens back to health in hospitals and taught their children.

They also expanded the national fiscus, while still having to send remittances back to their home countries as well as sustaining households in South Africa.

"Consequently, the assumption that all foreign nationals do not pay tax is as preposterous as the assumption that all South Africans do pay tax," he said.

Gigaba said it was also wrong to claim that all foreign nationals committed crime.

"We must all be very concerned about the repercussions of this criminality as it might spark diplomatic and retaliatory attacks against South Africans in other countries".

Over 2 000 foreigners in Durban have fled their homes and are now living in temporary camps, under police guard. Violence against migrants from other African countries is common in South Africa, with locals accusing foreigners of taking their jobs and business.