The Consortium of Refugee and Migrants in South Africa (Cormsa) said ‘xenophobic’ violence by a parliamentarian were regrettable and ill-timed following recent incidents where South African nationals have unleashed an orgy of violence against foreign nationals in many parts of the country.
Last week, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, Maggie Maunye, was quoted in the media as suggesting foreign nationals coming to South Africa were using up the country’s resources and preventing citizens from enjoying their freedom. The comments were made after a briefing by a delegation of the Department of Home Affairs to the Portfolio Committee.
Sicel’mpilo Shange-Buthane, Cormsa Executive Director told The Zimbabwean that Cormsa was concerned by such sentiments from political leaders.
“We are deeply concerned by the ill-informed and inflammatory comments that were made by Maggie Maunye about foreign nationals. At a time when South Africa is working hard to uphold the values of the Constitution, such comments would not be expected from a Senior Parliamentarian. The South African constitution is seen as one of the best on the continent and in a young democracy like ours, it is regrettable to hear a portfolio committee member questioning human rights laws and the country’s Constitution labelling them ‘an excuse to accommodate foreigners’.”
Maunye has since apologized for her comments.
Post published in: News