"Sadly, Mugabe and Zuma, during their bi-lateral talks, ignored the tragedy of xenophobia which amounts to crimes against humanity and outright infringements on the fundamental rights and freedoms of our people. Ironically, Mugabe thanked South Africans for hospitality and tolerance of Zimbabweans who have “offended and disrupted social services in that country”

The aftermath of xenophobic violence and looting in Isipingo, Durban. An Ethopian national was repotedly killed just 3km from this scene. Image Credit: China Ngubane

 

 

 

 

 

XENOPHOBIA has reared its ugly head in South Africa again, with the latest wave of ethnic hatred dubbed “Black Easter” affecting over 120 foreign nationals in the Isipingo area in Durban.

Since the beginning of the Easter weekend last Thursday (2 April 2015), South African locals have been giving an ultimatum to scores of Zimbabwean, Congolese and Mozambican nationals to leave their country. Fearing for their lives, these migrants have all sought refuge at police camps such as Sydenham in Durban.

With the majority of immigrants in SouthAfrica being Zimbabweans, whose number alone is widely estimated to be about three million, one would have expected that the current chairman of SADC (Southern African Development Community) and AU (African Union) who is on a state visit to South Africa and also happens to be the president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, would have taken time to address the issue.

In the same vein, one would also expect the president of the host nation Jacob Zuma to table issue which is the cause of unrest in his backyard.