DA questions adherence to SAHRC findings on Xenophobic attacks
14 April 2015
The DA notes with concern the recent utterances by Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, with respect to the spate of xenophobic attacks currently ensuing in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Minister Nhleko stated that what was being experienced in KZN was not necessarily xenophobia but rather ""Afrophobia"", and supported King Goodwill Zwelethini's irresponsible comments that serious crimes were mostly committed by undocumented foreigners.
Now more than ever a clear line of condemnation of the attacks needs to emerge from government, the King and high-ranking politicians, alongside an effective law enforcement strategy.
The Minister must stop splitting hairs and admit there is a problem and apply himself and his department to containing it before any more people are harmed.
The rampant attacks across townships within KZN are clearly xenophobic and should be treated as such. The Minister of Police must focus on law and order.
I will therefore be submitting a parliamentary question to ascertain whether or not the recommendations of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) - in the Report on the SAHRC Investigation into issues of Rule of Law, Justice and Impunity arising out of the 2008 Public Violence against Non-Nationals - were ever implemented.
The SAHRC recommended that: ""A national task team of police compile a documentary record of institutional learning during and after the May 2008 attacks in consultation with affected stations and provincial offices. This should form the basis of relevant training or guidelines, which should be rolled out to all affected stations, prioritising those stations which have experienced violence against non-nationals on more than one occasion.""
It is for the South African Police Service (SAPS) to urgently institute measures to arrest the continuing xenophobic violence that seems to be spreading countrywide if we are to avoid the violent xenophobic situation that erupted in 2008.
It is clear that early warning systems recommended after the 2008 xenophobic attacks, in which 41 foreign nationals were killed, are not working or simply have not been implemented.
The DA calls on the police to dedicate sufficient resources and officers to KZN to prevent any further loss of life and property or attacks on foreigners, and to make sure that peace and stability are restored.
Prevention is the key to quelling these cruel acts.
Therefore it is vitally important that recommendations on an effective system to warn authorities of any possible future flare-ups of xenophobic violence are taken seriously and are implemented without delay.
Statement issued by Zakhele Mbhele MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Police, April 14 2015
