xenophobia attacks in South Africa

The people involved in such crimes should be used to feed crocodiles.

Statement made by Lynette Chen, CEO – NEPAD Business Foundation Africa against Xenophobia/ Afrophobia South Africa is one of Africa’s most culturally diverse nations with 11 official languages and 5 racial groups, which include black African, white, coloured, Indian and Asian. According to the last census in 2013, South Africa is also the home to nationals from 53 African countries giving the country a wider range of ethnic variety than the rest of the continent.

Johannesburg - The government said on Sunday it would help foreigners driven from their homes by xenophobic violence, a week after hundreds were attacked near Durban. Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba, visiting victims at a sports ground where they are currently living in tents, said the government would help them return to their home countries if they wanted to. "Our constitution says that everyone who is within the borders is entitled to dignity, to shelter, etc. So unless that is amended we have no right therefore to victimise people from other parts of Africa," he told public broadcaster SABC. Most of the 250 victims of the latest outbreak of xenophobic violence at Isipingo, south of Durban, come from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Gigaba added that he and his ministry are also ready to help immigrants who are determined to stay in South Africa. The minister stressed that he was working with local authorities so the immigrants can return "back to their communities where they have residence to continue with their lives".