The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Kagashe Beatus
22 May 2008
Some Tanzanians living in South Africa are among the injured in the ongoing attacks on foreigners, which have so far left 25 dead, the government has confirmed.
But so far there has not yet been reports of any Tanzanian having been killed.At least 20,000 mostly injured foreigners have also been displaced, and have sought shelter in police stations and churches in the wave of violence directed at immigrants mainly around Johannesburg.
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation permanent secretary Ambassador Charles Mutalemwa confirmed yesterday that some Tanzanians were also injured in the indiscriminate attacks.He said their exact number was yet to be established as the Tanzanian High Commission in Pretoria was still following up the matter.
Meanwhile, the Government would compile the names of those whose lives could be in danger to determine whether or not to bring them back home.The task could, however, be difficult since most Tanzanians in South Africa, the permanent secretary said, were not registered with the High Commission.
Yesterday, ambassadors of different countries in South Africa met with local officials to find ways of dealing with the problem, and establish the damage caused.The South African government is now under growing pressure to deploy its army in Johannesburg's black townships for the first time since the apartheid era.By yesterday mobs reportedly continued to move around the troubled twonships, chanting slogans with 'go back home' messages to immigrants.
They accuse foreigners of taking their jobs and houses; and of being responsible for rampant crime.
In Joe Slovo camp, East Rand, one person was hacked to death and two others were badly injured yesterday as the rage continued. Shacks were set on fire and hundreds of immigrants fled to a local community centre.
On Monday a South African businessman was also reportedly burnt alive in his home in Actonville after a mob accused him of hiring foreign workers.
About 20,000 Zimbabweans, Mozambicans and other African immigrants have sought refuge in police stations, churches and community halls, with more arriving by the hour. Hundreds have been forced to sleep outdoors with winter setting in.
Nearly 300 people have been arrested over the attacks and related crimes such as rape and looting.
The country's Safety and Security minister, Mr Charles Nqakula, said the policedeployed 'specialised units' to combat the violence.
"We are going hard on the situation," he told foreigners sheltering in a police station in East Rand.
But there are calls for the army to patrol the townships to control the violence, which has degenerated into ruthless murder and robbery.
In a debate on the crisis in the Gauteng provincial legislature yesterday, the leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance, Jack Bloom, accused the government of failing to respond forcefully enough to the crisis.
"President Thabo Mbeki is notoriously allergic to admitting that even the most obvious crisis is a crisis, so yet again people die because he is out of touch with reality, both here and in Zimbabwe," he said, adding that the military had to be deployed into the townships to back up the police.
The call was backed by a coalition of South African human rights groups, which called the violence a "national emergency". But others have questioned whether the army can make a difference, pointing to its ineffectiveness in quelling anti-apartheid unrest in the past and the difficulties of patrolling the warren-like squatter camps.
The Premier of Gauteng province, Mbhazima Shilowa, did not oppose the deployment of troops but said the decision had to be made by the government.
He said: "The situation is dire and we must intervene and intervene forcefully," he said. "What kind of nation are we building - one which rejoices at someone who is burning, who is engulfed by flames?"
President Mbeki has described the violence as 'shameful and criminal'.He said 'Citizens from other countries on the African continent and beyond are as human as we are and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity'.
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