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South Africa: City of Joburg Slams Racially Motivated Attacks
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BuaNews (Tshwane)
13 May 2008
Posted to the web 13 May 2008
Bathandwa Mbola
Alexandra
The City of Johannesburg has condemned the attacks on foreign nationals living in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, which are believed to be racially motivated.
For the past two days, an angry mob shot dead three people and injured more than 50 others, all believed to be illegal immigrants. It is reported that an unconfirmed number of people fleeing from xenophobic attacks have been robbed of their belongings. "We strongly disapprove of the violent attacks that occurred in the Alexandra Township and are calling on communities to refrain from any violent attacks or xenophobic activities.
"Those who choose to be intolerant and personally attack immigrants are sowing seeds of division not very different from our racist apartheid past," the City Council noted in a statement on Monday. People from across the African continent have been attracted to South Africa as the continent's economic powerhouse and by its relative peace and prosperity.
This has led to an increased number of attacks on migrants by those who say foreigners are taking local jobs and contributing to crime. The economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe has lead to an influx of migrants into South Africa. An estimated three or four million Zimbabweans alone have fled to the country. An estimated 600 000 people live in Alexandra Township, which attracts migrants from across southern Africa. "We know that migration and urbanisation can not be wished away or halted. The only viable option is to manage it," the council said.
In this regard, the Migrant's desk was established in 2007 to assist migrant communities with a wide range of services including advice on how to access services and information about economic and social opportunities. "The city has a policy on managing migration and seeks to ensure that all those who live within its jurisdiction abide by the country's laws and are treated fair in keeping with the country's human rights guidelines."
The council further acknowledged that Johannesburg has a long history of peaceful co-existence between South Africans and foreign nationals and that the city will continue to be an inclusive city. In connection with the attacks, about 30 people were arrested, and police were looking for several other suspects. The nationals are currently seeking refuge at police stations and local businesses have donated food and blankets.
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Earlier this year, two foreigners were killed and 1 000 left homeless when their houses were burnt down outside the capital, Pretoria.
i think it is wrong for the people of SA to attack this people although some may have been seen robbing people but lets put ourselves in their position were you have no where to go you have a mad man running your country lets not attack the innocent and i feel that many people have problem about foreigners especially if the person is from africa but if it was someone from ameriva this would never had happened because they fear americans which is wrong.
i think it is wrong for the people of SA to attack this people although some may have been seen robbing people but lets put ourselves in their position were you have no where to go you have a mad man running your country lets not attack the innocent and i feel that many people have problem about foreigners especially if the person is from africa but if it was someone from america this would never had happened because they fear americans which is wrong.
It is not racially based according to defintion only "Whites" can be racists or am i incorrect look it up in a dictionary Normally black on black violence is called tribalism or is it "NEW SPEAK" aka 1984
Ignorance is more expensive than education. When I lived in South Africa(1995-98, I faced the same xenophobic attitude from our Black South African brothers.More than three times, I escaped death.Then I left the country.What surprises me is that the government has done little or nothing since then.By condoning Mugabe's regime, one of the unintended consequences is the flux of Zim refugees to South Africa and they have no choice but to fight for survival, which put them in collision with the poor black south africans who have been misled to expect entitlements from the government. The sad part is this... [Read Full Text]
Xenophobic Violence Against Foreigners
I am very saddened and disappointed about the xenophobic attitude and behaviour of some Black South Africans toward foreigners. They must surely have very short memory:
Over three decades they were victims of extreme White racist regimes. During these periods, many foreign countries including neibouring countries and those far off provided countless number of South African with safe havens;
Many countries imposed sanctioned on the White South African government in support of the suffering Black South Africans;
Some countries directly aided the ANC's fight against Apartheid by offering military and other assistance.
The success of the... [Read Full Text]
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