SOUTH African newspapers and online media on Wednesday devoted ample spaces in their publications to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration over the handling of attacks against foreigners.
An analyst with the country’s Mail & Guardian, Simon Allison, wrote in an article titled: ‘The shame of being a South African in the rest of Africa’.
He wrote: “These days, when I get into a taxi in Lagos, or Addis Ababa, or Blantyre, or Hargeisa, the first question I get asked is: “Where are you from?” The second question is: “Why do you hate us?” The news of attacks on foreigners in South Africa will spread along migrant routes even before it appears on news sites. Every time, a Zimbabwean is assaulted in central Johannesburg, or a Somali-owned shop is looted in Tembisa, or a senior government official bemoans the “foreign criminals” that are taking everyone else’s jobs, the shock reverberates across borders — through WhatsApp groups and social media and long-distance phone calls — and leaves scars that may never disappear.
The Daily Maverick, in a story titled, “Xenophobic attacks shame South Africa as regional leaders meet, stated that “South Africa has been hit by an outbreak of xenophobic violence in its biggest city, attracting criticisms from other African nations in the weekly political and business leaders from at least 28 countries gather in Cape Town”.
The Daily Maverick also added: “A spate of violence that broke out in suburbs south of Johannesburg’s city centre on Sunday and spread to the central business district on Monday saw the destruction of more than 50 mainly foreign-owned shops and business premises. Cars and properties were torched and widespread looting took place.”
The medium added: “Violence echoes sporadic outbreaks of attacks mainly targeting migrants from other African countries in some of South Africa’s poorest areas. In 2008, about 60 people were killed and over 50,000 forced from their homes and in 2015 seven people died in the violence. Migrants are seen as competition for scarce jobs and government services.
It also quoted Zambia as warning its truck drivers, many of whom drive goods to the South African port of Durban, to stay out of the country.
“South African politicians condemned the violence, in which one person was shot dead, according to eNCA, a local television station. At least 41 people were arrested.
“Still, politicians from the ruling African National Congress have in the past made anti-immigrant comments and Johannesburg’s mayor, Herman Mashaba, has attracted criticism from human rights groups for his frequent attacks on undocumented migrants. Mashaba is a member of the opposition Democratic Alliance.
The violence is “unacceptable,” Ace Magashule, the secretary-general of the ANC, said in remarks broadcast on television.
“We condemn this violence which is taking place, irrespective of whatever reasons people want to give,” he said.
The South African, in a report, “Xenophobia: These artists will no longer be performing in South Africa”, reported that the widespread xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals living in South Africa have resulted in artists cancelling their performances in the country.
“The recent attacks — influenced by xenophobia — targeted at foreign nationals, in South Africa, have garnered international condemnation. As a result, some artists who were scheduled for gigs in the country have revealed that they will no longer be performing.
“It seems, for now at least, that the widespread xenophobic attacks and looting targeted at foreign-owned shops around Gauteng have come to an end.”
In another report, the South African in a headline, “International community speaks out against xenophobic attacks, wrote: “The events that have gripped foreign nationals, living in South Africa, in fear, have garnered widespread international condemnation.
“Jidenna, an American musician of Nigerian origin, took to Twitter to react to the xenophobic violence that has been perpetrated by South Africans over the past week.
In a headline, “EFF accuses the government of waging war on foreign nationals”, the paper wrote: “The EFF has accused the government of sponsoring a “war” on foreign nationals from other African countries.
“This after Soweto residents looted shops owned by foreigners on Wednesday night.
“The red berets said that government was to blame because of its rhetoric following a police operation to clamp down on counterfeit goods in the Joburg CDB.” (The Nation)
