Former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, has condemned the current xenophobic attack on Nigerians and other foreigners in different parts of South Africa.
While calling on the country’s security agencies to up their game, the former President called on communities to report criminal activities to the appropriate quarters.
His words, “I must express my grave concern at events which took place in this city last week, in the context of what was reported as an anti-immigrant march.
“In that context, I want to say ‘thank you’ to Ringo Madlingozi for what he said in the songs he rendered.
“As South Africans, we should never forget the enormous sacrifices that were made by the sister people of Africa to help us achieve our liberation.
“We cannot now behave in a manner that treats fellow Africans, who are now residents in our country, as enemies or unwelcome guests, neither should we commit the offence of viewing or characterising African migrants in our country as criminals.
“When our communities discover or suspect criminal activities in their areas, regardless of the nationality of the alleged criminals, it must be reported to the (South African) Police Service.
“The police service itself has an absolute obligation to follow up on these community reports to avoid people taking the law into their own hands.
“All of us know that our country faces many socio- economic challenges such as poverty and unemployment. Not even one of these problems can or will be solved by attacking fellow Africans who have joined us as migrants.
“Those who organise and participate in these attacks, which must stop, must know that there is absolutely nothing revolutionary, progressive, patriotic, acceptable or of service to the people in what are, in fact, criminal activities.”
Source:howafrica.com
2 comments
XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS AND MBEKI’S REMARKS:
The True , Sincere and Committed Leaders in Africa are those that fought for the peace and freedom that we are toying with today, and they will never be a part of any form of xenophobic attacks.
I will not out-rightly blame everything on the South-African citizens but majorly the blame goes to the leadership of the country that saw this coming but never bothered about the overall implications and the ripple effects on the country and on the continent as a whole especially on Nigeria. No doubt the present leaders in south Africa have deviated from what Great Leaders Like Late Nelson Mandela, Oliver Thambo, Thabo Mbeki etc fought for and laid down.
These people passionately and fearlessly fought for no other thing than the well-being of an average South African and equitable distribution of wealth that will afford all access to good education, shelter and good health care. But my candid advise to the citizens of south Africa who at the same time are my fellow Africans is that, they should take their issues to the appropriate quarters and respect whatever legal business been carried out there by the immigrants as a challenge and make a healthy competition out of it and like the word of wisdom from the elder statesman who has said that:
“When our communities discover or suspect criminal activities in their areas, regardless of the nationality of the alleged criminals, it must be reported to the (South African) Police Service.
“The police service itself has an absolute obligation to follow up on these community reports to avoid people taking the law into their own hands.
“All of us know that our country faces many socio- economic challenges such as poverty and unemployment. Not even one of these problems can or will be solved by attacking fellow Africans who have joined us as migrants.
“Those who organise and participate in these attacks, which must stop, must know that there is absolutely nothing revolutionary, progressive, patriotic, acceptable or of service to the people in what are, in fact, criminal activities.”
Please do not let this lead to reprisal attacks which can further destabilize unstable Africa. Politically and economically we need to strengthen our dear continent. Do not forget that local businesses established over there by Nigerians have their replicas even bigger ones here in Nigeria which are established by south African.
Let us appreciate our unique culture and traditions as Africans.
Long live Africa!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your concern. You could know this because the history of your Country. A lot of these “South Africans” who are involved in this violent acts may not know their history. Also, they do not know that South Africans live in other Countries.