Xenophobic Attacks

20 May 2008

Let me begin with an issue that has in the last few days dominated local and international media – attacks against foreigners and South African nationals in South Africa.

We are very concerned that violence continues and that new outbreaks of violence are occurring.

The South African government condemns the unprovoked attacks by elements within our society on vulnerable foreign nationals.

It is our view that at this very difficult and challenging time, we avoid sensationalism. It is the role of the media to investigate more deeply growing reports of the involvement of criminal and other elements in instigating and provoking these attacks, largely against foreigners. Journalists have a very important role not just to report elements of this phenomenon but to try to contextualise why this phenomenon has hit South Africa so seriously in the last few days. I also believe that it is the time to avoid politicking and politicising this situation.

As you know, yesterday the Secretary-General of the ANC met with the Secretary-General of the IFP to see how we can collectively work towards ending this violence and it is important for other political parties to stop making generalised comments and join the national effort to deal with this phenomenon.

It is also important to deal with, what I believe, is unsubstantiated criticisms of either the police or the government generally in dealing with this. I believe it is a matter of record that the police, and reservists, in very difficult circumstances have attempted to do their best in dealing with what has been a totally unexpected phenomenon in our country.

It is our view that most of the foreigners amongst us have sought refuge and safety in our midst due to a variety of social, political and economic factors which forced them to relocate to South Africa. It is therefore incorrect for us to shut the door on them, seek to ostracise them, intimidate them or ask them to return to their countries.

Our responsibility and indeed moral obligation as a Government and people is to extend our hospitality to them as they did when thousands of our people fled into exile during our struggle for liberation.  We must remember that had it not been for the enormous support that we, as South Africans, received from African countries in the bleak years of Apartheid, we may not have achieved the Democratic Revolution. 

Many innocent fellow Africans, particularly in the Frontline States paid with their lives to protect and shelter our people, yet all they ask of us is to allow them to be treated in a humane and dignified manner. We cannot forget that the then Apartheid government carried out massive destabilisation campaigns against these countries precisely because they gave support to the South Africa democratic struggle. We must never forget this message to be forgotten.

We call on our law-abiding citizens to cooperate with the authorities to bring this shameful behaviour to an immediate end, especially as we celebrate Africa Day this coming weekend which is an appreciation of our African heritage, identity, culture, resilience and pride in our diversity.   

Let us not overlook the disturbing fact that sinister forces appear to have a hand in the escalation and spread of this repulsive behaviour which has regrettably led to the loss of innocent lives, both of foreigners and South Africans.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Government as a whole expresses its regret at the events of the past two weeks in this regard and calls upon all political parties and people, civil society and faith-based organisations to intensify efforts to restore calm and peace and allow the reintegration of all affected people into the respective societies that they have come to call home and family.

Let us not allow a handful to erode our kindness, compassion and spirit of Ubuntu.