President Jacob Zuma has pledged to tackle anti-
migrant sentiment in South Africa and to address
deep-rooted problems behind the attacks. “South
Africans are not xenophobic,” he said Wednesday.
“If we don’t deal with the underlying issues, it will
come back.”
Zuma gave few details of government plans, but
said the violence was driven by “criminal
elements” as well as friction between foreigners
and locals.
However, several thousand demonstrators marched
through central Johannesburg on Thursday to
protest against a spate of deadly attacks on
immigrants, after further raids by the authorities on
suspected gang hideouts.
Watched by police, crowds sang songs
denouncing xenophobia and carried banners that
read “We are all Africans” as migrant workers
crowded balconies, shouting their support.
“This march sends an important message to the
world, to Africans,” David Makhura, premier of
Gauteng province of which Johannesburg is the
capital, told the demonstrators. “We are going to
defeat xenophobia like we defeated apartheid.
“We are here to make sure that South Africa is a
country of peace for all.” Soldiers were deployed in
Johannesburg this week to aid police in operations
against hostels housing South African men who
are accused of targeting migrants from Zimbabwe,
Malawi, Mozambique and other African countries.
At least seven people have been killed in three
weeks of unrest that have revived memories of
xenophobic bloodshed in 2008, when 62 people
were killed. “I am here to make a stand, to say
‘Not in my name’,” Zain Mayet, 20, one of the
marchers, told AFP.
“Keeping quiet makes me as guilty as those who
are committing violence. “We are here to
demonstrate that not everyone in South Africa is a
criminal who attacks foreign nationals.” UN chief
Ban Ki-moon condemned the violence and called
for “all efforts” to be made to avoid future attacks.
“He welcomes the public expressions of the many
South Africans who have been calling for peaceful
coexistence and harmony with foreign nationals,”
Ban’s spokesman said in a statement.
- Forced to flee -
Two people were arrested late Wednesday when
police, backed by soldiers, stormed a workers’
hostel in the city’s crowded Alexandra township. In
total, over 300 people have been detained. The
unrest erupted in the port city of Durban about
three weeks ago and later spread to Johannesburg,
the economic capital.
Many immigrants have been forced to flee their
homes and abandon their small shops as
marauding mobs hunted down foreigners at night.
“Over 5,000 people from Malawi, Zimbabwe,
Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo and
Burundi still seek refuge in displacement camps,”
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF – Doctors Without
Borders) said in a statement.
“Injured Malawian and Zimbabwean men told
medics that they are too afraid to openly seek
medical treatment for their wounds and fractures
for fear of further attack.” More than 20 years since
the end of apartheid, many South Africans believe
the lack of opportunities for young blacks and a
severe jobs shortage has led to deep frustration.
One Mozambican man was stabbed to death in
Alexandra township last Saturday in scenes that
provoked widespread outrage after the killing was
captured in graphic newspaper photographs.
Alexandra, where Nelson Mandela lived as a young
man, is one of the most troubled parts of
Johannesburg and is located next to the upmarket
business district of Sandton.
Regional relations have been strained by the
attacks, with Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique
organising for some worried citizens to return
home. Neighbouring Mozambique said more than
2,000 citizens had fled the violence. Five buses
also arrived back in Zimbabwe on Wednesday.





http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/south-africans-are-not-xenophobic-president-jacob-zuma/

Jokes

Eya i pity the poor Presido. But South Africans are Xenophobic. That's the fact.

Weyrey Ni eleyi o after killing nigerians and others for some stupid reason , u com talk sey wetin? Oya bring ur head make I correct am

What the meaning of Xenophobic? Relating to what dey av done? Iguess they are now terrorist