Jail the attackers, says Makhura

Police take up position to retaliate against a group of Jeppe hostel dwellers who were taunting and pelting them with stones. There had been a fresh spate of Xenophobic related attacks and looting of shops, including the torching of numerous cars by the hostel dwellers throughout the week. Picture: Antoine de Ras, 17/04/2015

Police take up position to retaliate against a group of Jeppe hostel dwellers who were taunting and pelting them with stones. There had been a fresh spate of Xenophobic related attacks and looting of shops, including the torching of numerous cars by the hostel dwellers throughout the week. Picture: Antoine de Ras, 17/04/2015

Published Apr 20, 2015

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Johannesburg - People who attack foreign nationals should be prosecuted and locked up in jail, Gauteng premier David Makhura said on Sunday.

“It is time to move beyond arrests and ensure these attackers are prosecuted,” he told community members and religious leaders at Christ Church in Mayfair.

“People will see that these atrocious acts are not tolerated once they see people convicted and in jail.”

Makhura visited a shelter housing displaced foreign nationals in Mayfair.

Makhura said the continued attacks were a danger to humanity.

“This must be brought under control, this (is) a danger to humanity. We call on labour unions, student organisations, religious leaders, sports bodies... everyone... to take a stand against this.”

Most of the foreign nationals were brought in from Alexandra on Saturday.

A Mozambican national was stabbed to death in the township as xenophobic violence that erupted in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, two weeks ago spread to the rest of the country.

Makhura said everyone should take a stand against xenophobic attacks and not relax when the situation calms down.

“We must stop being reactive, we must work non-stop and continue talking to people and make them understand the consequences of these acts,” he said.

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba on Sunday told reporters in Pretoria that more than 300 people have been arrested in relation to widespread attacks on foreign nationals and looting.

President Jacob Zuma cancelled an official trip to Indonesia on Saturday to deal with matters at home.

ANA

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