For several weeks there have been mounting fears among South Africas community of immigrants, after rumours started circulating that there would be xenophobic violence targeting all foreign nationals in South Africa after the football World Cup comes to an end.
Human rights groups have attributed the alleged threats of violence to fears that the job market will dry up when the tournament comes to an end. There was a significant boost in jobs over the past few years, particularly in the construction sector, as the country prepared to host the international football tournament. But with the job market once again contracting, the same anger that fuelled xenophobic violence in 2008 is beginning to resurface.
The 2008 attacks, which swept across the country in a manner of days, saw angry locals blaming foreigners for stealing their jobs. More than 60 people were murdered and thousands of foreigners fled their homes, living in refugee camps for several weeks. The same xenophobic tensions have continued to simmer over the past two years, with isolated attacks flaring up every so often.
The South African government was last month forced to reinstate the Inter-Ministerial Committee on xenophobia to look into the rumoured threats of more violence. Last week, the head of that committee, Police Minister Nathi Mtetwa stated that the government will not tolerate any threat or act of violence against any individual or sector of society, no matter what reasons are given to justify such threats or actions. He said in a statement that the government is closely monitoring these xenophobic threats by what he called faceless criminals whose desire is to create anarchy.
Braam Hanekom from the South African refugee rights group, PASSOP, told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that the rumours have spread like wildfire, despite there being no basis for the rumours to begin. He explained that there are fears now that the rumours will become a self fulfilling prophecy, because tensions are so high. It will just take one incident in one community to provide that spark that will spread this countrywide, Hanekom said. These rumours have created a highly flammable situation.
The rumoured threats of violence have continued to gather steam and public fears are running high. Zimbabwean nationals have told SW Radio Africa that letters are going around some communities in Johannesburg, telling foreigners to be gone by the time the World Cup ends. Others have said that police officials have refused to assist them when theyve gone to police stations report threats of violence.
There are now increasing reports of foreigners beginning to leave their South African homes, fearing the violence that, if the rumours are to be believed, will begin when the football spectacle ends this weekend. On Tuesday, South African press reported how foreigner nationals were leaving Cape Town in great numbers, begging lifts at local petrol stations to escape the Mother City.
SW Radio Africa correspondent Simon Muchemwa also reported on Tuesday that many Zimbabweans are returning to their home country, fearing the rumoured violence in South Africa. He said there has been heavy congestion at the Beitbridge border post and on the main highways to Harare, with people returning to the country. People have told me that would rather be back home than face violence in South Africa, Muchemwa said.
Post published in: News