The ruling ANC on Tuesday condemned a Canadian decision to give a white South African refugee status from the crime-ridden country, rejecting it as "racist", "sensationalist" and "alarming".
"The African National Congress views the granting by Canada of a refugee status to South African citizen Brandon Huntley on the grounds that Africans would 'persecute' him, as racist," it said in a statement.
"We find the claim by Huntley to have been attacked seven times by Africans due his skin colour 'without any police intervention' sensational and alarming.
"Canada's reasoning for granting Huntley a refugee status can only serve to perpetuate racism," said the ANC.
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The ruling party said President Jacob Zuma has made it very clear that the government would tackle South Africa's high crime rate, with its annual murder rate standing at around 18 000.
"There are no doubts about the government's commitment to fight crime in the country. During his 2009 State of the Nation address, President Jacob Zuma made it clear that government would - with the support of all organs of civil society - move with speed in addressing crime."
News24.com reported on Tuesday that Canada had granted South African citizen Huntley refugee status, because the South African government could not protect him from persecution by "African South Africans".
The Canadian newspaper, the Ottawa Sun, quoted a representative of the SA High Commission in Ottawa, Anesh Maistry, as saying South Africa had taken note of the decision, reported News24.com.
Maistry told News24.com that Canada was a sovereign country that made its own laws.
The Ottawa Sun reported that Huntley had provided "clear and convincing proof of the South African government's inability or unwillingness to protect him" to a Canadian immigration and refugee board.
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