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Xenophobic attacks return in South Africa

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-07 09:09

July 22: President Jacob Zuma has condemned attacks on foreigners in Mpumalanga.

The attacks, which have so far displaced about 100 foreigners living in Balfour, are chillingly similar to the early stages of last year's xenophobic violence in which 67 people died around the country.

Related readings:  S. African minister: Xenophobic violence under control  Xenophobic violence spreads

As with last year's violence, the attacks in Mpumalanga happened under the guise of protests against service delivery. Residents began protesting on Sunday, demanding that local officials address complaints about access to water and electricity, and job opportunities.

But locals soon turned their attention to the foreign business-owners in the Siyathemba township in Balfour.

They looted the businesses of Ethiopian, Pakistani and Chinese shop owners. Several foreigners were assaulted.

Yesterday, about 100 displaced foreigners sought refuge at the Balfour police station. Police were last night still trying to find temporary shelter for them.

Police have arrested 99 residents for public violence.

Zuma's spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, said last night: "We are yet to corroborate the reports of violence in the service-delivery protest in Mpumalanga. However, the president's view is that there is no excuse for violence or destruction of property of any sort, including the targeting of foreign nationals.

"President Zuma has on numerous occasions spoken against xenophobia in our country and he will continue to condemn it. The right to protest is not, at all, a licence for violent behaviour."

Jody Kollapen, chair of the SA Human Rights Commission, said "following last year's xenophobic violence, an uneasy calm settled and not enough was done to understand the cause of the attacks".

"I am of the strong view that the violence is a result of socioeconomic ills and a perception among South Africans that they are being marginalised. They see the foreign nationals as unfair competition."

Kollapen said there had not been a thorough investigation of last year's violence or prosecution of perpetrators. "This was not enough to send a strong message that it should not happen again," he said.

The Times reported in February that only 128 of the 1400 suspects arrested for xenophobic attacks were convicted and sentenced.

Kollapen said not enough was done to understand the root causes of the violence.

"Was it xenophobia, was it socioeconomic problems? If these were identified then proper programmes should have been put in place, across the board, from government to civil society," Kollapen said.

In recent months there had been violence that included attacks on foreigners, he said.

"This is a competition for resources."

Pakistani grocery store owner Mohamed Waqas, who has lived in Balfour for five years, said: "There was no warning. On Sunday night someone on a loudspeaker [called] for protest action. They then barricaded the road with rocks and the police told us to leave. I feel so bad because we have worked so hard, but now everything is gone … it's finished."

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