Pretoria – Cabinet has condemned in the strongest terms the acts of violence against foreign nationals and has called on all communities to take a stand against the attacks.
“South Africa is not a violent country and therefore a few individuals cannot be allowed to hold the whole country to ransom,” said Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Performance and Monitoring, Jeff Radebe.
Addressing the media during a post Cabinet briefing on Friday, Minister Radebe said violence towards other human beings can never solve the issues raised by communities.
“No amount of frustration or anger can justify these attacks and looting of shops. Rather, it reflects badly on us as a people, going against the very ideals and foundations of our democracy.
“South Africa fought against colonialism and apartheid alongside fellow Africans so that all humanity in our continent should be respected and treated with dignity,” Minister Radebe said.
The Minister warned that the impact of these attacks has far reaching implications on the country’s economic and social relations with the continent and the world.
“South African companies who are running successful businesses in the continent, which help to contribute to our revenue and sustain our economy, may suffer the same fate,” the Minister said.
Fellow African countries did not only host South Africans, they also contributed resources and some paid the ultimate price and lost their own citizens in the course of South Africa attaining democracy, Minister Radebe said.
He said South Africa will not be derailed from pursuing the pan African vision as encapsulated in African Union Agenda 2063, which was pursued by African forefathers such as Kwame Nkruma, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Mualimu Julius Nyerere and Nelson Mandela.
President Jacob Zuma has tasked the Justice Crime Prevention and Security Cluster Ministers, together with Ministers of Small Business Development, Trade and Industry and Social Development, to engage all the relevant parties to seek a solution.
The Ministers have also been tasked with dealing with the underlying socio-economic conditions, which seem to be at the heart of the attacks.
The President has further announced measures undertaken by the South African National Defence Force to bring control to our borders.
Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu announced this morning that Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini will on Monday hold an imbizo to make a statement on the attacks on foreign nationals.
During the imbizo, the King will address amakhosi, izinduna and amabutho.
The imbizo is in support to government efforts to curb the violence on foreign nationals. – SAnews.gov.za
