The South Africa Government has condemned xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals across the country. Phumla
Williams, the Acting government spokesperson, announced the official
statement on Friday according to that the South African government
strongly condemned the spate of violence against foreign nationals in
the country.
“Government
has noted with concern the so-called xenophobic attacks on foreign
nationals. We strongly condemn violence, not only on foreign nationals,
but also on South Africans. South Africa is a democratic country that
accommodates foreigners that are in this country legally,” Ms. Williams
said.
She said the government complimented the police for arresting of “about 100 people associated with the recent lawlessness.”
No
fewer than 23 Nigerians were forced out of their homes on Sunday by
South Africans in Port-Nolloth, community for allegedly dealing in
drugs. Their property was looted and destroyed. Those affected were
moved to safety by the police.
The
police said nine people were arrested for public violence and
possession of stolen goods after a shop owner shot dead two men in
Diepsloot, Johannesburg, last weekend. A Somali man allegedly shot dead
the two, believed to be Zimbabwean nationals, outside his shop on
Sunday. The man was arrested and has been charged with murder. Local
residents destroyed and looted shops owned by foreign nationals in the
area during the incident.
On
Thursday all the Somali-owned shops in Port Elizabeth’s Booysen Park
were burnt or looted, while the owners were evacuated from the area by
the police to ensure their safety.
More
than 90 people were arrested for protest-related crimes in Evaton,
Orange Farm, and Sebokeng, South of Johannesburg in the aftermath of the
incident.
Police spokesperson, Stanley Jarvis, told newsmen that the police were in control of the situation.
The conflict, which has raged for three days, has seen residents’ petrol-bomb police vehicles and target Somali-owned shops.
An
army official, Marinda Mills said the unrest started when members of
the community became upset with the presence of gangs in the area.
“When
their effort to dislodge members of the gang was unsuccessful, the
protesters turned on the police and Somali shops. We do not know if
protesters were unhappy with the police or gangsters or Somali
shop-owners,” she said.
Ms. Mills called on South Africans and foreign nationals to “live in peace and harmony.”
“Criminal
activities against foreigners and indigenes alike will not be
tolerated, as such acts impact negatively on the country’s economy and
image. Government will do all in its power to ensure that any form of
violence is nipped in the bud, and ensure that law abiding citizens live
without fear of being attacked and molested by criminals,” she said.
Meanwhile,
the Anglican Archbishop of KwaZulu-Natal, Reuben Phillip, has called on
religious leaders to join in the fight to combat xenophobia in their
communities.
He said the country “needs to celebrate its diversity, instead of resorting to alienating people from other countries.”
“Religious
organisations should and must play an important role by coming together
irrespective of their religious differences and say no to what can only
be considered a scourge,’’ Mr. Phillip said.
Okey
Emuchay, Nigerian Consul-General in Johannesburg, reacting on the
development, warned of the consequences of the current spate of
xenophobic attack on foreign nationals across South Africa. He urged the
police and other security agencies to find ways of curbing the attack
on foreigners.
“The
world is now a global village, what is happening here in South Africa
is being read and watched across the world. It is the duty of the police
to provide security to people living here and protectors of those
promoting violence and attack on foreigners should rethink and join the
progressive forces by fishing out and punishing those perpetrating the
violence before the whole thing escalate beyond what can be managed,”
Mr. Emuchay said.
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