The President of the Republic of South Africa Jacob Zuma has finally come to the party by realising that indeed not everyone in the family has been making nice with the guests.
Zuma appealed for calm yesterday and urged foreign nationals who were threatened to go to the police and thereby isolate the criminal elements making these threats.
“Let us isolate all elements who may have sinister agendas, who may want to create havoc and sow pain and destruction in communities, especially foreign nationals residing in our country,” he said.
The president had previously dismissed claims of imminent xenophobic violence but has received increasing pressure from other arms within government as well the Movement for Democratic Change, a coalition movement within Zimbabwe that has branches in South Africa. The MDC was urging prevention before cure in this situation.
Government has grown concerned about reports that some foreign nationals “may be fleeing the country due to fears of possible xenophobic attacks”.
Reports say the Jesuit Refugee Services centre in Johannesburg said it was assisting dozens of mainly Somali and Ethiopian traders who were closing their businesses and taking refuge at the centre each night for fear of being attacked while they slept.
On Tuesday, the South African Institute for Race Relations urged the government and African National Congress (ANC) leaders to speak out and change negative perceptions that many black South Africans had about African immigrants.
Meanwhile last week, police minister and chairman of the inter-ministerial committee on xenophobia Nathi Mthethwa said that the threats were the latest “hysteria” that sought to discredit SA’s successful hosting of the World Cup.
Zuma has also urged the policing services in South Africa to identify the “hooligans” who are threatening violence against foreign nationals and detain them quickly.
The government has in the past couple of days blamed the media for distorting incidents into a xenophobic context. It is a relief to see the ones in charge of the country rise up and say 'no' instead of playing the blame game.
- newstime
Zuma appealed for calm yesterday and urged foreign nationals who were threatened to go to the police and thereby isolate the criminal elements making these threats.
“Let us isolate all elements who may have sinister agendas, who may want to create havoc and sow pain and destruction in communities, especially foreign nationals residing in our country,” he said.
The president had previously dismissed claims of imminent xenophobic violence but has received increasing pressure from other arms within government as well the Movement for Democratic Change, a coalition movement within Zimbabwe that has branches in South Africa. The MDC was urging prevention before cure in this situation.
Government has grown concerned about reports that some foreign nationals “may be fleeing the country due to fears of possible xenophobic attacks”.
Reports say the Jesuit Refugee Services centre in Johannesburg said it was assisting dozens of mainly Somali and Ethiopian traders who were closing their businesses and taking refuge at the centre each night for fear of being attacked while they slept.
On Tuesday, the South African Institute for Race Relations urged the government and African National Congress (ANC) leaders to speak out and change negative perceptions that many black South Africans had about African immigrants.
Meanwhile last week, police minister and chairman of the inter-ministerial committee on xenophobia Nathi Mthethwa said that the threats were the latest “hysteria” that sought to discredit SA’s successful hosting of the World Cup.
Zuma has also urged the policing services in South Africa to identify the “hooligans” who are threatening violence against foreign nationals and detain them quickly.
The government has in the past couple of days blamed the media for distorting incidents into a xenophobic context. It is a relief to see the ones in charge of the country rise up and say 'no' instead of playing the blame game.
- newstime
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