The wave of deadly anti-foreigner violence continued overnight in South Africa, barely hours after South African President Jacob Zuma appealed for calm, amidst fears that the country’s dire economic woes could spark widespread unrest.
At least six people have been killed in the last two weeks in attacks in the Indian Ocean city of Durban that targeted shops and homes owned by Somalis, Ethiopians, Malawians and other immigrants.
Police in the Actonville area of Johannesburg used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of anti-immigrant protesters on Thursday, while foreign-owned shops in the Jeppestown area of the city were attacked overnight.
Speaking in parliament, Zuma said no amount of frustration or anger can ever justify the attacks on foreign nationals and the looting of their shops.
Meanwhile the United Nations has expressed concern at what it called repeated incidents of xenophobia in South Africa, dating as far back as 2008.
In a statement by the High Commissioner for Human Rights the global body urged the government to accelerate the enactment of legislation that will tackle hate crimes in the country while formulating future policies on migrants that conform to international standards.
Scenes in Durban have shocked the world as bricks were hurled at vehicles and individuals.And while the government has been firm in its condemnation, the United Nations is alarmed at the recurrence of violence directed at foreigners in the country.
The African union and the west African bloc Ecowas have also voiced similar concerns over the situation in South AFrica.
