MPs are in KZN to meet with among others, provincial and municipal officials, NGOs and immigrants.
CAPE TOWN – Members of Parliament (MPs) are in KwaZulu-Natal this week as part of their probe into xenophobic violence.
A joint parliamentary ad-hoc committee is expected to meet with, among others, provincial and municipal officials, NGOs and immigrants over the next few days.
Parts of KwaZulu-Natal became the epicentre of deadly xenophobic violence that spread to Johannesburg earlier this year.
The committee’s co-chairperson Ruth Bengu said, “We will look at the root cause of the problem. Things such as high rate of unemployment, our socio-economic conditions and where do we start in addressing this situation.”
Bengu says MPs won’t be meeting with King Goodwill Zwelethini, but have arranged to speak to the National House of Traditional Leaders.
Zwelithini’s comments are widely believed to have inflamed anti-foreigner sentiments.
DEDICATED COURTS DEAL WITH XENOPHOBIC CASES
The Justice Department said dedicated courts are dealing with cases related to the xenophobic violence.
But the ministry added that many of the incidents were still being investigated.
It clarified the intention was never to set up such specialised courts in all provinces, with the department’s Mthunzi Mhaga saying dedicated courts were set up in KwaZulu-Natal.
“Gauteng didn’t have enough cases to have them on their roll, and the same applies to other provinces. They have finalised less than 10 cases and other cases are up for further investigation.”
In April, the province was plagued with attacks on foreign nationals, leaving a total of seven people dead, including three South Africans.
A survey found that South Africa’s image overseas has suffered substantially due to a number of major news stories with sport being the country’s only positive media export.
Media Tenor conducted a 20 day analysis of overseas news outlets looking at the major stories emanating from this country.
It said the stories on Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir and the xenophobic attacks have made world headlines substantially damaging the country’s image.
The research included 1,000 reports from 15 TV shows.
This involved major broadcasters in countries including the US, Britain, Italy, France, Germany and China.
The hasty exit by Sudan’s president, contrary to a court order, achieved the most South African coverage overseas, with the Fifa scandal and corruption also making news headlines.
Prior to the al-Bashir scandal and xenophobia, the Oscar Pistorius murder trial also made news headlines worldwide, adding to negative publicity.
Media Tenor said the only notable good news about South Africa was the Cricket World Cup in January and February with the Proteas making notable progress, but losing to New Zealand in the semifinal.
http://ewn.co.za/2015/07/06/MPs-continue-their-probe-into-KZN-xenophobic-violence