South Africa's government has pledged to protect foreigners threatened by a recent outbreak of violence that has forced 13,000 to flee their homes. Officials also said the country would not deport migrants without documents during the current period. The attacks began a week ago north of Johannesburg, before spreading to the city and surrounding areas. At least 23 people have been killed, and ministers have been discussing using troops to quell the violence. On Tuesday police fired rubber bullets to disperse a crowd in one suburb during a crackdown on the violence.
South Africa's government has pledged to protect foreigners threatened by a recent outbreak of violence that has forced 13,000 to flee their homes.
Officials also said the country would not deport migrants without documents during the current period.
The attacks began a week ago north of Johannesburg, before spreading to the city and surrounding areas.
At least 23 people have been killed, and ministers have been discussing using troops to quell the violence.
On Tuesday police fired rubber bullets to disperse a crowd in one suburb during a crackdown on the violence.
Protecting foreigners eh?
Sowetan - News
The Department of Home Affairs said yesterday it was assisting thousands of foreign nationals to leave the country immediately. "Field workers are working round the clock in affected areas helping to process papers for those who are ready to go back to their countries. We are doing this so that they do not have any problems at the different borders," spokesman Mantshele Tau said. But, Tau could not say exactly how many foreign nationals had come forward because the department officials were still registering people daily.
The Department of Home Affairs said yesterday it was assisting thousands of foreign nationals to leave the country immediately.
"Field workers are working round the clock in affected areas helping to process papers for those who are ready to go back to their countries. We are doing this so that they do not have any problems at the different borders," spokesman Mantshele Tau said.
But, Tau could not say exactly how many foreign nationals had come forward because the department officials were still registering people daily.
As I wrote last evening, Gauteng has gone through another restless night. I found this disconcerting piece this morning:
Star
A large gang of Durban taxi drivers turned on two men from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the Clermont taxi rank in the city centre on Tuesday. The informal traders were approaching the rank when the men shouted at them and demanded to know if they knew the isiZulu word for elbow, indololwane. The French-speaking men were surrounded by the drivers and one was severely beaten. The other got away. Gabriel Rashidi, 18, who escaped, said he arrived in South Africa two weeks ago after his family was killed by rebel forces when he refused to join their ranks. One taxi driver said they had turned on foreigners because they had been spurred on by events in Johannesburg. "We do not want foreigners here. They must go back to their countries," he said. The man accused the foreigners of selling drugs and being criminals. This was the second such attack in KwaZulu-Natal in the past four days after three Mozambicans were attacked at the Cato Crest informal settlement, in Cato Manor, at the weekend.
Again with the narrative... This is indicative that these sentiments are now beginning to spread south into KwaZulu-Natal.
