Durban - Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini arrived at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Monday morning to address a waiting crowd on xenophobic violence, but members of the king’s official escort could be heard chanting that foreigners should leave South Africa.
Recent xenophobic rhetoric by the king has been blamed by many as the reason for the spate of xenophobic attacks in which at least six people have died in the past three weeks.
And while the king was expected to seek to quell anti-foreigner sentiment in his speech, members of his amabutho (regiment) could be heard chanting: “Abahambe abahambayo, sizosebenza (those who want to leave can go ahead, we are working.”)
The amabutho are usually armed with sticks and dressed in traditional attire. On Monday some were wearing Zulu warrior attire while others were clothed in civilian dress.
Jabu Nzimande from Berea told ANA that while they did not condone the beating and killing of foreigners, they were welcome to leave South Africa.
“Government must speak the truth, they must take action against the drug lords which are foreigners,” Nzimande said. “We voted for freedom, but not to be ruled by foreigners. They are selling drugs and destroying our communities.”
Zwelithini arrived shortly before 11am to address the crowd of mainly hostel dwellers most armed with sticks and knobkierries.
ANA