Press Statement – CoRMSA Calls for Effective Intervention in Xenophobic Violence in Siyathemba
The Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA) is extremely concerned by the renewed xenophobic violence which has taken place in Siyathemba, Balfour. Last night, shops owned by foreign nationals in the area were attacked and looted by a large mob, reportedly after a demonstration against the local mining industry. The violence resulted in a number of shops being looted and destroyed and at least 57 people being displaced.
Many of those affected by the violence last night were also victims of violence in July 2009 where the shops of foreign nationals were targeted following service delivery protests and around 100 people were displaced. Those who laid criminal charges relating to the violence and the damages were later intimidated into dropping these. Despite the visit of a Task Team of Ministers to the area, no effective and sustainable solution was found to address the grievances being raised and as a result, further violence has occurred.
CoRMSA calls for the Office of the Premier to intervene to find effective and sustainable solutions to the unrest in the area. Such solutions will involve engaging with community concerns as a means of addressing the source of conflict as well as ensuring the safety and security of all living in the area. CoRMSA calls for those displaced to be provided with humanitarian assistance and for the police to provide protection to those who wish to lay criminal charges.
This is the latest incident of xenophobic violence in 2010. Further violence has also taken place in Atteridgeville, Riviersonderend and Polokwane this year. With South Africa due to host the FIFA World Cup shortly, it is critical that lasting solutions are found to the conflicts that often then result in xenophobic violence.
For further information, please contact:
Duncan Breen, Advocacy Officer, CoRMSA
011 403 7561 or 0722 000 383
i am abdi kadir kalif ali. an asylum seeker from somalia. i came here in this country on 03/2007. to find abetter life peace and security i was actually well comed by the immiration officess in bietbridge. and offcourse i got abetter life in this great africa country. but i was badly effected by the crime in this country. which is problem to every one . on june last year i was attacked by unknown gun men who took all my belongings including my asylum papers. by the time they were attacking me i was in tembiza .jhb. but my asylum paper was issued by the department of home affairs.in PE . so i went to PE home affairs to tell them my problem. but unfortunately .they asked me fille no. or copies. which i couldnt it . at all. the home affairs told me that they cuold not help me. with out fille no. now i dont have any i dentity. i cnt go to hospital i cnt open an account . i cnt by a car. and i cn be arrested by the police any time how can i get help.
i am abdi kadir kalif ali. an asylum seeker from somalia. i came here in this country on 03/2007. to find abetter life peace and security i was actually well comed by the immiration officess in bietbridge. and offcourse i got abetter life in this great africa country. but i was badly effected by the crime in this country. which is problem to every one . on june last year i was attacked by unknown gun men who took all my belongings including my asylum papers. by the time they were attacking me i was in tembiza .jhb. but my asylum paper was issued by the department of home affairs.in PE . so i went to PE home affairs to tell them my problem. but unfortunately .they asked me fille no. or copies. which i couldnt it . at all. the home affairs told me that they cuold not help me. with out fille no. now i dont have any i dentity. i cnt go to hospital i cnt open an account . i cnt by a car. and i cn be arrested by the police any time how can i get help. contact details . cell no. 0735569084
Hi, i think the Xenophobic violence in South Africa will keep recurring many years from now. The problem in South Africa is the demise of the black man’s soul that led to self hate of blacks. It is something that is so deeply entrenched that black people will just need to be taught self worth and respect for values. Ministers showing up at crime scenes wont do much ! If one hates themselves the only other person they attack is someone like them, OR someone they consider inferior to them thus this sick cycle . My advice is that the media like the Star continues to acknowledge contribution of the migrants in the country and diffuse from negating everything foreign and black. There are many migrants from Europe, China and India that are not targeted, because the black South African still considers other races superior therefore gives them the status quo of master. The biggest and worst form of slavery is mental slavery coz it is a state that could take upto 100 years to reverse. You need to forget about a whole generation that has been intoxicated and try to redeem they new generation not forgetting that is about 50 years! That is the reality of the matter. President Zuma and the ANC understand the dynamics of Africa and are doing a good job with Nepad, SADC etc…That is at the political leve, we now have to look at the social level. The man living in Soshanguve blockk gg, or Mamelodi! That is the challenge that am trying to raise here.