Ten vehicles were set on fire in Soweto during protests by South Africans opposing the presence of foreign nationals in the country.
Violence and disorder will not create jobs or improve people’s lives. This kind of lawlessness only causes harm and destruction.
Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, said police would not tolerate lawlessness and warned that criminal acts would have consequences.
The protests followed a Constitutional Court ruling that asylum seekers who entered South Africa unlawfully must be allowed to apply for permits.
Poverty, hardship and unemployment are deep challenges in South Africa. But blaming and attacking foreigners will not solve them. No grievance can justify violence or the destruction of property. Every human life deserves protection, regardless of a person’s immigration or documentation status.
Protests that turn violent will not build businesses or create jobs. Instead, they risk making an already difficult situation worse and damaging South Africa’s relationships with other African countries.
Churches, community organisations, businesses and schools should support strong public campaigns against xenophobia and Afrophobia. Everyone who cares about South Africa has a role to play in standing against violence, hatred and discrimination.
Collen Makumbirofa
Journalist | Editor | Human Rights Advocate
Voice of the Downtrodden
makumbirofac@gmail.com
www.makumbirofafarms.co.za
