Cases of
xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa have left the whole world in
shock, with reports indicating a possible repeat of the violence witnessed in 2008
where more than 62 foreigners died.
Despite
continuous efforts by the South African government to assure foreigners their
safety, incidents of violence against non-locals in major cities like Cape Town and Durban are being reported every day.
It is
believed that these attacks are motivated by xenophobia with irate locals blaming
their lack of employment in their own country on foreigners. So far more than
five people, among them a 14-year old kid, have died and an unknown number of
shops owned by foreigners looted.
According to
several victims who managed to escape, angry youths are attacking foreigners at
night and their main aim is to loot and kill. The attacks that have continued
for the last three weeks have driven thousands of non-locals from their homes
to passage camps in areas like Isipingo and Chartsworth.
Many blame the
violence on comments made by King Goodwill Zwelithini that all foreigners
should leave South Africa. He has since denied making such remarks. It is also
not clear where the African Union stands.
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