South Africa: Zimbabwe Consulate to assist scores of families displaced in xenophobic violence

The Zimbabwe Consulate in Cape Town has been called in to assist 67 nationals and 21 children who were evicted from their homes in Nompumelelo outside KuGompo (East London) or Buffalo City in the Eastern Cape over the weekend. The consulate has been asked to assist in repatriating these families, who are now living in the veld. There are also reports of foreign-owned shops being shut down by xenophobic gangs in the Eastern Cape, with similar anti-immigrant campaigns taking place in Durban.

These campaigns have been styled as “clean-up” operations by groups such as March and March, but video evidence shows what appear to be locals confronting foreigners and demanding that they return to their own countries. Tensions appear to be building ahead of an anti-immigrant protest planned for 4 May. “We are xenophobic,” reads a message from protest organisers.

“We want all foreigners, documented or not, out of this country as a matter of urgency.” eNCA reports that three shop owners of Somali origin were gunned down in the Johannesburg CBD, apparently as part of an escalating turf war. Ward 59 councillor Sthembiso Hlatshwayo said he had approached the Gauteng premier’s office to intervene, but had not received a response. “Things are worse as we speak, and they are going to be worse still.

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They are killing each other. Each and every week, they kill two; it is a reality,” he told eNCA. There are concerns that xenophobic violence is not getting anything like the attention it deserves from government and law enforcement.

Ghana has formally protested the treatment of some of its nationals in SA, while Nigeria and other countries have expressed concern at the spread of xenophobic language and violence. Last week acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia condemned acts of violence against foreigners and promised to bring culprits before the courts.

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