Johannesburg — Xenophobic violence has spread to Cape Town, while poverty stricken foreign nationals in six of South Africa's nine provinces seek ways of returning to their country of origin after attacks.
At least 42 people have been killed, 23 of whom were Mozambican nationals, according to Mozambique's deputy interior minister, Jose Mandra. More than 17,000 people have been displaced and more than 400 suspects arrested.
Violent attacks against foreign nationals began nearly two weeks ago in Alexandra township, in northern Johannesburg, and quickly spread to many other areas in Gauteng, South Africa's richest province.
Mozambique's foreign affairs Minister, Oldemiro Baloi, said on the national television channel, Televisao de Mozambique, that the National Operative Emergency Centre, also known by its acronym, CENOE, was being used to manage an expected influx of between 12,000 and 15,000 Mozambicans driven out by the violence in neighbouring South Africa.
Mozambique has provided buses for its nationals wanting to leave South Africa, while Malawi's foreign affairs principal secretary, Ben Mbewe, said in a statement from Blantyre, Malawi's second city, on 23 May: "More than 850 Malawians have been affected by the current violence. All Malawians willing to return home will be evacuated."
Zimbabwe has announced similar plans, although many of its citizens fled to South Africa because of food shortages, post-election violence and an inflation rate unofficially estimated at 1 million percent.
It is thought that since 2000 between one and three million Zimbabweans have fled to neighbouring South Africa, and form the majority of a foreign national community estimated at between one and 10 million people, most of whom are undocumented migrants.
A meeting gone wrong
According to local media, at about 9 p.m. on 22 May, after a meeting by residents of Cape Town's Du Noon informal settlement, several shacks were destroyed, shops owned by foreigners were looted and one person was killed after a mob attacked foreign nationals with stones and bottles. About 500 foreigners sought refuge at the nearby Milnerton police station.
The Du Noon meeting was called in a bid to try and stop xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals.
Outbreaks of xenophobic violence are not a new phenomenon in Cape Town. In 2006, over a period of three months, 29 of the city's population of 4,000 Somalis were killed in xenophobic attacks, according to a spokesperson for the Somali refugee community. The police dispute the figure and claim only 10 Somalis were killed, and that this was a result of crime and not xenophobia.
On the website of the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency's representative in South Africa, Sanda Kimbimbi, said the "UNHCR is deeply concerned about the widespread xenophobic attacks targeting foreigners in Gauteng Province in South Africa. Those affected include refugees and asylum seekers who fled to South Africa seeking protection from persecution in their own countries."
We are very much concerned and apologise for all the incoveniences that the (xenophobic) incidents have caused
South Africa's Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, reportedly told delegates at a bilateral conference in the Nigerian capital, Abuja: "We are very much concerned and apologise for all the inconveniences that the (xenophobic) incidents have caused."
The South African government, which has deployed troops in support of the police, is blaming a hidden hand in the spate of xenophobic attacks.
Political analysts attribute the xenophobic violence to a range of factors, including high unemployment, porous borders, one of the world's highest crime rates, poverty, police and government corruption, ineffective service delivery and an inept foreign policy in regard to resolving Zimbabwe's political impasse.
[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]
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With tears in my eyes.
Ahaaa! i think thus very bad and selfishness what people of Souh Africa did,because this is not the foreigners problem but that the problem of theirs, they dont want to go to school, they dont want to work they just sitting and waiting someone to work for and thug people stilling their things that has worked for thats very very bad your saying that we can still campagning for what we want but your still hosting the World Cup?your just kidding my brethern because we people we are the foreighners and we will going to have mantha we will be scares to come there because of your behaviour then what wil be a result no foreighner coming there to watch the match we are the people who helps your government to make money because of our hardworking so its better to behave than doing things like animals. its not like that have a human heart so that God should bless us together try to solve the problem fast.any country its the duty to keep foreigners and help oneonather, we work and we contribute t the country at the sametime, and my worry is why dont you give our people a warning for maybe one or two weeks to vacate in your country instead of killing and give them wounds and scars and coming back without their possesion if you were your side happenng like that how can you feel that is not good your the big Devils take care you can receive the revenge somewhere,
I'm embarrased by the current xenophobic events in our nation. Africa belongs to all those who inhabit her (whether "born-and-bred" or "foreign") and South Africa is Africa.
We are all children of the same creator - our Mighty God - and His word commands us accordingly - When an alien (foreigner) lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Leviticus 20:33-34
We now need bold, caring and visionary leadership from the fathers of our Nation - South Africa in particular & the Continent to calmn the situation and enforce the law of the land which our fathers and forefathers died for - that of equality and comradeship.
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise from another place But who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14
Tomorrow is Africa Day - it is time for Africa to Arise, Love, Care and Support One another - instead of killing each other for short term gains which are criminal.
Africans - South Africans I love you and May God forgive my Generation.
My brother in Cape Town,I totally agree with you my brother.This is a disgrace, it's so barbaric 4 modern South Africans to even think in this manner.Have we forgitten where we come from?Lusaka was a home 4 our struggle fighters and this is how we treat repay our brothers and sisters?I 4 one am very embarassed 2 be South African now!Thanx bro,its good 2 know SA isn't filled to the brim with ignorant stereotypes.
It is really a big shame for South Africa as a whole. The South African government has failed its own people, the foreign nationals, Africa and the world at large. I understand that most of these trouble causers are lazy people who does not want to work or study. All this, is the problem of very poor governance. You can blame these looters for the xenophobic attacks but remember, "LIKE FATHER LIKE SON." They are doing exactly what the government is doing, the only difference is that the government indoors and controls the media. Now South Africa have created enemies in their own courtyard. What do you expect from South Africans, if a "PRESIDENT" to be believes that washing your genitals after having intercourse with an HIV infected woman washes away the disease! What do you expect from South Africans, when their president said, "there were no crisis in the neighbouring Zimbabwe." Yet his own government and people were complaining about Zimbabweans running to his country for help i.e asylum. Everyone knows about the current situation in Zimbabwe as a country what they are going through. Why making a fool of yourself Mr President? We are going to campaign against S A hosting the World Cup!
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