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Xenophobic attacks on foreigners: A cause of urgent concern
Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF)
January 09, 2008

Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) is extremely worried about the recent spate of xenophobic attacks against foreigners in South Africa. In the last few weeks, attacks have been witnessed Mooiplas area and Soshanguve in Pretoria, Thembisa in Johannesburg as well as some locations in Cape Town. Xenophobic attacks against mainly Zimbabweans in South Africa have often been accompanied by accusations that foreigners cause crime and are responsible for the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the country.

ZEF notes with disconcertion that the phenomenon of xenophobia in South Africa has been fuelled by irresponsible reporting of crime by various media correspondents. This situation has also not been helped by reckless and groundless statements made by high-ranking officials that crime in South Africa is perpetrated mainly by foreigners. This has indirectly led to vicious attacks on foreigners, some of them refugees and asylum seekers. Attacks of this nature have often manifested themselves in the killing of those of foreign origin, the burning of their houses and property as well as physical assault as was the case in Soshanguve on Saturday.

Whilst ZEF does not condone criminal behavior by foreigners, it posits that crime knows no nationality in South Africa. ZEF therefore urges the government of South Africa to ensure that officials do not shift blame for the incidents of crime to genuine asylum seekers and refugees as well as innocent immigrants in this country. Furthermore, there is need to support with facts statements that implicate foreigners as perpetrators of crime. We also urge media associations to reign in some of their colleagues whose reporting on crime and HIV/AIDS has been suggesting without facts that foreigners are responsible.

ZEF is calling upon refugee support groups in South Africa to work together to stop the xenophobic tendencies aimed at foreigners. We also urge the police to act expeditiously in curbing xenophobic attacks and other tendencies, and not to apply the law selectively when such incidents are reported.

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