Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned against organised formations mushrooming across South Africa, targeting foreign nationals, saying these create social tensions and are against the law.
Ramaphosa said this while addressing the Human Rights Day commemoration rally in Koster in the North West.
“Those who are setting up organisations such as Dudula, we say that is contravening the law.
“We cannot allow a situation where people embark on vigilantism to deal with a problem, a social problem.
“Let us work together. It is sensitive because this thing can soon turn into xenophobia and you know how the continent can turn its back on us,” Ramaphosa said.
He said that South Africa relied on “this continent of 1.3 billion people) for business, livelihoods and imports.
We are observing Human Rights Day here in the town of Koster in the Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality.https://t.co/xR9cwLl2aO
— Cyril Ramaphosa ?? (@CyrilRamaphosa) March 21, 2022
Ramaphosa also urged employers to desist from employing undocumented foreign nationals.
“We say to employers: do not employ undocumented workers because when you do you are just going to create tension among the people,” said Ramaophosa.
With unemployment at 35% – and rising up to 65% among youth – competition for jobs has spawned resentment among some jobless South Africans.
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In the past, xenophobic protests have morphed into violence. Attacks against foreigners left at least 62 people dead in 2008, while another seven were killed in similar unrest in 2015.
Armed mobs descended on foreign-owned businesses around the financial hub Johannesburg in 2019. The ensuing clashes left at least 12 people dead, of whom 10 were South African, according to the government.
In recent weeks, scores of protesters have been staging demonstrations against undocumented migrants in what they have dubbed Operation Dudula, Zulu for “drive back”.
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Picture: Twitter_PresidencyZA
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
Additional reporting by AFP
