S. African cabinet condemns xenophobia violence
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E-mail Xinhua, April 17, 2015
The South African cabinet on Friday condemned "in the strongest terms" the recent acts of violence against foreign nationals in the country.
"At this point, cabinet would like to extend its heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and a speedy recovery to those who are injured," said a cabinet statement issued after a fortnightly cabinet meeting.
No amount of frustration or anger can justify these attacks and looting of shops, the statement said.
Locals attack foreign nationals on the ground that immigrants do illegal business, take up local employment and even commit crimes.
"Whilst noting the issues raised by communities, violence towards another fellow human being can never solve these issues," said the cabinet statement.
"Rather, it reflects badly on us as a people, going against the very ideals and foundations of our democracy."
The cabinet said South Africa fought against colonialism and Apartheid alongside fellow Africans so that "all humanity in our continent should be respected and treated with dignity."
In apartheid times, fellow African countries did not only host South African people, they also contributed resources and some paid the ultimate price and lost their own citizens in the course of South Africa attaining democracy, said the statement.
The current spate of xenophobia violence mainly affects Durban and Johannesburg. According to official figures, five people have been killed and thousands of immigrants displaced.
The impact of these attacks has far reaching implications on South Africa's economic, social and relations with the continent and the world, said the statement.
South African companies which are running successful businesses in the continent may suffer the same fate, the statement said.
South African President Jacob Zuma has tasked ministers in charge of security and trade to engage all the relevant parties to seek a solution.
The ministers have also been tasked to deal with the underlying socioeconomic conditions which seems to be at the heart of these attacks, so that this matter can be dealt with decisively and comprehensively, said the statement.
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