Johannesburg, South Africa: South Africans have forced a lot of foreigners out of their homes and businesses, the violent attacks have resulted in more than 5 deaths since last week. The immigrants, mostly Africans have been forced out of their homes and businesses.
According to Khadija Patel, a South African journalist, who spoke to Al-Jazeera said:
Hundreds of foreign nationals were displaced in Isipingo [20km south of Durban] late last month, when a group of South Africans attacked foreigners living and working in the area. The victims of that continue to reside in a makeshift camp at a sports ground in Isipingo. The Isipingo attacks was blamed on a labour dispute at a local wholesaler, and government refused to categorise the violence as xenophobic violence.
The last attack claimed the life of a 14-year old boy who was shot on Monday night during the looting, he died on his way to the hospital, a police spokesperson said. Another woman was shot dead as rioters loot her shop, while another man beaten to death during an anti-xenophobic march.
South Africans looting foreigners had happened in January, causing the death of 4 people and violence attack in Soweto and other part of Johannesburg. Shops owned by foreigners are now closed for fear of attacks by their host country.
The Kings Speech
The Zulu king. Goodwill Zwelithini, an influential figure in the Zulu community had said that "foreigners should pack their bags and leave". This had fuelled the violence in the community as the rioters keep chanting, "The king has spoken"
The king had said he was misquoted and appealed for peace and end to the unrest.
Malawi had started repatriating its citizens, more than 400 Malawians will be repatriated for fear of their lives. Malawi also started discussions with the South African government to give it's citizen a temporary travel document as most of them don't have the documents as they flee from their houses with nothing to take along with them.
Government Actions
The Government has started arresting rioters. More than 34 South Africans without a firearms license have been arrested in 2 days.Police also have been deployed with high alert in areas where they have foreign nationals to protect them from further attacks.
Can Foreigner Trust The Government
Since the attack happened, no government official or the government has stepped to the podium to condemn the attack, Marc Gbaffou, Chairman of African Diasporan forum writes in an open letter. The government failed to acknowledge that the attack was xenophobic attack, instead says it is a criminal behaviour.
South Africans have been known to attack foreign nationals and not fair to immigrants in their part of the world.
In early 2013, a young Mozambican man named Mido Macia was tied to a police van and dragged through a street close to Johannesburg by officers. He had parked his taxi on the wrong side of the road. The video was captured via video and shared on social media. Macia died in police custody.
President Zuma responds to the attack, watch:
Culled From Al-Jazeera, Edited By Doy News Media