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NCA condemns xenophobia attacks in Pretoria
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA)
April 21, 2008

The National Constitutional Assembly Zimbabwe (NCA) is deeply disturbed by recent spate of attacks on Zimbabweans and other foreign nationals by some elements within the South African community for allegedly 'taking' their jobs and opportunities.

After learning that four Zimbabweans including a 9 year old girl were killed yesterday, (Wednesday 16 April 2008) the NCA feels it is the time the safety and security minister and the south African government take tough stance on the treatment of foreigners.

The NCA would like to express worry that despite previous experiences the local authorities (South Africa Police Service) in South Africa were failing to protect foreign nationals.

The NCA is of the view that the ministry of safety and security is not doing enough to protect people living in South Africa worse those who are seeking political asylum.

The ministry of safety and security is hereby urged to act expeditiously in making sure that these kinds of behavior as demonstrated in Attridgiville, Diepsloot and Mamelodi is eliminated.

In Attridgiville it is reported that over 100 shacks belonging to foreign national mostly Zimbabweans and Mozambicans were burnt and the same happened in Diepsloot living over 500 homeless.

The Mamelodi attacks becomes of significance as most Zimbabweans who fled places such as Mabopane, Soshanguve, Attridgiville, Olivinehotbosch and Diepsloot had been taking refugee in this area hence the attacks leaves them more vulnerable.

Meanwhile the NCA urges the Department of Social Service, Safety and Security and Home Affairs to make urgent intervention in making sure that the affected gets humanitarian assistance.

Reports' coming to the NCA points that mostly the affected are currently sleeping in the open at Marabastad taxi rank in Pretoria central, a place well known for criminal activities.

The NCA also urges the South African government to be rational as mediators in the Zimbabwean crisis by accepting that there is a crisis in Zimbabwe. The NCA feels that most of the behavior displayed by ordinary South Africans is what these people think is a position taken by political leaders.

The NCA further urges the Social Services, Safety and Security department to embark on an education exercise to South African communities on debunking some of the myths still prevailing in the South African communities about foreigners.

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