In the wake of recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, thousands of South Africans took to the streets in solidarity with the foreigners in the city of Durban. The attacks have claimed at least 5 lives since March where attackers beat or stoned to death, or burnt the foreigners alive.
The xenophobic attacks protests drew participation from political leaders, religious leaders and other citizens as they calmly demonstrated and sung songs of solidarity with the foreigners. The protested called for the immediate end of the attacks as the killings did not solve their current economic crisis the country is experiencing.
In a different part of the same city xenophobic South African natives protested chanted and called for the foreigners to leave their country. The police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters. Some of the protesters claimed that the foreigners were taking their jobs and business opportunities and were the reason for the increasing rates of unemployment.
Jacob Zuma, the President of South Africa condemned the killings terming them as unacceptable and shocking. He further added in a dress to the South African Parliament, “No amount of frustration or anger can ever justify the attacks on foreign nationals and the looting of their shops. We condemn the violence in the strongest possible terms. The attacks violate all the values that South Africa embodies.” Zuma said.
Most foreigners affected by the xenophobic attacks in South Africa come from Somalia, Nigeria, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Over 2000 foreigners have sort refuge in refugee camps in Durban with a rising fear of the number increasing and stretching the available resources.
Images and messages on social media are urging foreigners to be vigilante as the attacks could spread to other areas in the country amid a 24-hour ultimatum given to South Africa by Boko Haram to end the attacks or face the bombings and other consequences.
Xenophobic attacks in South Africa are not unheard of as over 60 people were killed in similar attacks in 2008 in Johannesburg.
