JOHANNESBURG - The Consortium for Refugee and Migrants in South Africa (Cormsa) expressed fears of fresh xenophobic attacks against foreign immigrants in the country once next months World Cup tournament is over. (Pictured: This horrific image of a Mozambican immigrant set on fire by a
The group that campaigns for the rights of immigrants in Africas biggest economy said called on the South African government to take preventive measures now to ensure that foreigners will not be victimised once the soccer tournament is over and the world spotlight is turned away from South Africa.
“Two years ago today (last Tuesday), xenophobic violence swept through South Africa… Now, a month from the opening match of the World Cup, threats are mounting of further mass xenophobic violence once the event is over,” Cormsa said in a statement.
It said at least ten incidents of violence had occurred this year in areas such as Siyathemba, Atteridgeville, Mamelodi and Orange Farm.
Foreign nationals around the county were being threatened with violence by neighbours, taxi drivers and civil servants.
“Some of those making the threats believe that they have the support of senior political leaders. Taking them seriously and initiating preventative action is the only way to ensure that actual violence is avoided.”
The organisation said a group of women living in central Johannesburg had received threats of violence.
“One woman went to a local clinic for her baby to be immunised and was told by the nurse to ‘go back to your country. After June there will be no more foreigners in this country. You will all die’.
“Many such xenophobic threats go unreported,” Cormsa said.
South Africa, which is home to millions of immigrants from poorer African countries including an estimated two million Zimbabweans, has suffered bouts of xenophobic violence in recent years.
Mobs of South African youths last year drove hundreds of immigrants from Zimbabwe, Lesotho and other African countries from their homes in the farming town of De Doorns accusing them of stealing their jobs.
Last years violence followed an unprecedented wave of xenophobic attacks in 2008 that left at least 60 African immigrants dead and thousands of others without shelter or food after their homes were looted and burnt down.
The 2008 xenophobic violence that began in Johannesburg before spreading to other townships and provinces across the country saw mobs of South African men armed with machetes, axes, spears and guns attacking and killing immigrants in an two-week orgy of violence that shocked a nation, which prides itself as among the most tolerant societies in the world.
Post published in: Politics