21st April, 2015
President Jacob Zuma of South Africa has called together all stakeholders and leaders in government, to get together on Wednesday and discuss the xenophobic violence in the country.
The attacks have resulted in the death of several black non South Africans, while scores of others were injured and thousands displaced from their homes. Shops were also looted in the senseless orgy of violence while South African security personnel looked the other way.
Zuma says the important issue of what led to the violence and what can now be done to end it, will be high on the agenda, reports South Africa Broadcasting Corporation, SABC.
“I am in the process in government to call all stakeholders, leaders on Wednesday, to come and talk about this matter. A more organised grouping because I am calling upon everyone to come and talk about this matter. Firstly what has happened and why? Who are responsible? And then say what can we do?” Zuma was quoted as saying.
Zuma expressed concern about how the media is reporting on the xenophobic attacks.
He says images that are portrayed have a negative impact on the reputation of the country.
Thousands of people have been displaced in the past two of weeks by violence directed at African immigrants. Some on the foreigners have returned to their countries of origin.
Zuma reminded people about the hospitality of neighbouring countries offered to South Africans who fled the country during apartheid.
“They never turned us back, they tolerated us, if anything they supported our struggle. They did not ask us why we ran away from our country.,” Zuma said.
Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini, was reported to have triggered the violence when he asked African migrants in South Africa to go back to their countries because they were no longer welcome.
The South Africans accused the migrants of taking their jobs and depriving them of economic opportunities in their country.