Durban
(South Africa) (AFP) – Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini on Monday denied
whipping up xenophobic hatred in South Africa after he was accused of
triggering violence that has left at least seven people dead and forced
thousands from their homes.
Zwelithini had made an angry speech last month blaming immigrants for
rising crime and saying they must leave the country, in an outburst
seen as inciting the spate of attacks on Zimbabweans, Somalians,
Malawians and other foreigners.
Addressing a tribal gathering of several thousand Zulus in the port city of Durban the king insisted he had been misrepresented.
“My speech… was directed at the police, calling for stricter law enforcement, but that was never reported,” he said.
“The public was instead given another side of my speech, which has been twisted and misrepresented.
“This violence directed at our brothers and sisters is shameful.”
South African authorities have struggled to contain mobs in the
economic capital Johannesburg and Durban who have been hunting down
foreigners.
At least seven people have been killed and 307 suspects arrested in the worst ethnic violence since 2008, when 62 people died, mainly in Johannesburg’s townships.
Numbering 12 million people, the Zulus are the largest ethnic group in South Africa and Zwelithini, their traditional leader, retains great influence over his subjects.
Wearing a suit and tie rather than his royal animal-skin dress, he told the audience that he had never called on his people to attack foreigners.
“Had I said that, this country would be in ashes,” he said to loud cheers.
Many in the stadium, which was built for the 2010 football World Cup,
booed when foreign dignitaries were introduced and during multi-faith
prayers.
Violence has receded in recent days, but one person was injured when shots were fired at an anti-xenophobia march in the Alexandra township of Johannesburg.
– Anger over jobs –
The rioting and looting has exposed deep tensions between South Africans and immigrants from across the continent.
Foreigners are often the focus of resentment among locals who face a chronic jobs shortage and lack of opportunities for many in the impoverished black majority.
South Africa’s economy grew by just 1.5 percent last year and
unemployment is at around 25 percent — soaring to over 50 percent among
young people.
President Jacob Zuma moved to counter accusations of ignoring the attacks, which have provoked protests from African countries whose citizens have been targeted.
“Millions of South Africans condemn these atrocious killings and abhor xenophobia and all related intolerances,” he said in a statement released on Monday.
“Together we must work harder to root out violence and hatred in our society.”
Zuma, who cancelled a trip to Indonesia due to the unrest, will hold special meetings this week over migration policy, refugee rights and asylum seekers, his office said.
Several thousand immigrants have been forced from their homes and are
staying in camps, while Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique have organised
for some of their citizens living in fear in South Africa to return
home.
Addressing a tribal gathering of several thousand Zulus in the port city of Durban the king insisted he had been misrepresented.
“My speech… was directed at the police, calling for stricter law enforcement, but that was never reported,” he said.
“The public was instead given another side of my speech, which has been twisted and misrepresented.
“This violence directed at our brothers and sisters is shameful.”
At least seven people have been killed and 307 suspects arrested in the worst ethnic violence since 2008, when 62 people died, mainly in Johannesburg’s townships.
Numbering 12 million people, the Zulus are the largest ethnic group in South Africa and Zwelithini, their traditional leader, retains great influence over his subjects.
Wearing a suit and tie rather than his royal animal-skin dress, he told the audience that he had never called on his people to attack foreigners.
“Had I said that, this country would be in ashes,” he said to loud cheers.
Violence has receded in recent days, but one person was injured when shots were fired at an anti-xenophobia march in the Alexandra township of Johannesburg.
– Anger over jobs –
The rioting and looting has exposed deep tensions between South Africans and immigrants from across the continent.
Foreigners are often the focus of resentment among locals who face a chronic jobs shortage and lack of opportunities for many in the impoverished black majority.
President Jacob Zuma moved to counter accusations of ignoring the attacks, which have provoked protests from African countries whose citizens have been targeted.
“Millions of South Africans condemn these atrocious killings and abhor xenophobia and all related intolerances,” he said in a statement released on Monday.
“Together we must work harder to root out violence and hatred in our society.”
Zuma, who cancelled a trip to Indonesia due to the unrest, will hold special meetings this week over migration policy, refugee rights and asylum seekers, his office said.
Zimbabwe has about one million
mostly illegal immigrants in South Africa, many of them working in the
service sector, on construction sites and as casual labour.
In Malawi, the first of six buses carrying citizens arrived late on Monday.
Scores of Nigerian protesters
gathered in Lagos outside the South African visa office, carrying
placards reading: “We Say No To Killing of Our Brothers in South
Africa.”
Fearing revenge attacks, Irish
mining firm Kenmare Resources said Monday it had repatriated 62 South
African workers from its titanium mine in Mozambique.
“Unrest regarding foreign
workers in South Africa… has recently created reciprocal unrest
concerning South Africans working in Mozambique,” the company said in a
statement.
South Africa has been keen to calm foreign investors’ fears, stressing that the police are capable of ensuring safety.
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