Babalo Ndenze
Political Bureau
accusing President Jacob Zuma and the government of being indirectly responsible, MPs from all parties united in condemning the xenophobic violence in KwaZulu-Natal during a snap debate in Parliament yesterday.
The debate on the ongoing violence was initiated by UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, who wrote to Speaker Baleka Mbete requesting the matter be debated as soon as possible.
President Zuma told the MPs that no amount of “frustration or anger” could justify the attacks on foreigners and the looting of their shops.
“We condemn the violence in the strongest possible terms. The attacks violate all the values South Africa embodies, especially the respect for human life, human rights, human dignity and ubuntu. Our country stands firmly against all intolerance such as racism, xenophobia, homophobia and sexism,” said Zuma.
He said police have been directed to work “round the clock” to protect foreigners and South African citizens, and to arrest looters and those committing acts of violence.
“We request MPs to work with us as well, in their constituencies, to improve relations and promote peaceful co-existence between our people and foreign nationals. Measures are also being put in place to improve controls and better regulate immigration into our country,” said Zuma.
DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane recalled an image he saw this week that “really touched me as a husband and parent”.
“The image was of a mother and father, fleeing an angry mob, carrying their children to safety. My heart goes out to those foreign nationals. Growing up in Soweto, I have seen the capability of humans to inflict violence on one another,” said Maimane.
He said to focus anger and frustration on a small group of foreigners who have become “unfairly vilified and victimised” does not address the cause of people’s frustration.
“We must not turn xenophobia into a political football. We must not shy away from the root causes of the problem either. The root of this problem lies in our inability to bring about economic growth and decrease the inequality that plagues our nation,” said Maimane.
Holomisa said the UDM felt corruption and high unemployment played a significant role in breeding “social evils” in the country.
“We extend our condolences. A country with high levels of poverty, high unemployment rate, high levels of inequality, blended with leadership whose attention is on filling their pockets through corrupt activities, breeds all social evils, including criminality,” said Holomisa.
EFF leader Julius Malema was less diplomatic, accusing Zuma and the government of being responsible for the violent nature of South Africans.
“The state, being the elder of the whole of society, becomes responsible for all the violence meted against foreign nationals. It was through the state that our people were taught that resolution to differences is through violence. It was under your leadership that when you disagreed with people in Marikana, you killed them,” said Malema.
Malema said Zuma had also lost control of the country and his son Edward, who made anti-foreigner comments.
“Mr President, you taught our people that everything else must be resolved through violence, and therefore you must take full responsibility for having misled our nation that peaceful resolution does not exist. You have lost control of the country,” said Malema.
Maliyakhe Shelembe, of the National Freedom Party, said
: “We are saddened by the tragic loss of life.”
Freedom Front Plus MP Corné Mulder said there was “simply no place in South Africa for these kind of acts”.
“It seems there’s an evil spirit running around in this country at the moment. Where are the positive values, the values of respect, of honesty, of integrity, of discipline? We don’t see that. What do we see?
“We see greed, we see disrespect, we see theft, we see corruption, we see lawlessness.”
Mulder also reminded MPs of the comments made by Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini that foreigners should pack their bags and leave South Africa.