Citizens impacted most by xeno, criminality claims not heard
ALEXANDRA – Corruption, bribery, ineptness linked to 'xeno' blot on country
The sporadic acts of looting and mayhem which started in Gauteng province and is spreading elsewhere is further denting the country’s image.
The apparent xenophobia has resulted in some Nigerian nationals who are fearful for their lives, leaving the country in chartered planes with others from Zimbabwe and Malawi being ferried back to their countries in buses.
The incidents continue to be condemned by various governments, international and pressure groups as the debate rage on whether they are xenophobic or acts of pure criminality. The unrest has resulted in millions of rands worth of damage mainly to small businesses and 12 deaths have been reported, 10 of which were South Africans.
The mounting pressure on the government to stop the turmoil is also coupled with fears that some countries may be considering punitive steps against the country in retaliation. This is said to likely incite trade wars and cause unwanted strain on relations with sister African nations. Some social and religious leaders are supporting the government’s claim that the disorder is pure criminality. They say it is being instigated by known suspects who the Gauteng provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant Elias Mawela said were being pursued.
The incidents have a historical pattern of flaring up which puts more pressure on the government to act or suffer the condemnation that it’s incapable of enforcing law and order. This creates the perception that many local criminals and from elsewhere, take advantage of the government’s lethargy, failure to control ‘porous’ borders and to deliver services.
Foreign nationals who fall, victim, are said to be easy scapegoats as they tend to trade in the emerging and subsistence sector economies in which citizens also expect to eke out a living. Foreigners are also alleged to be drug dealers, operate prostitution rings and child trafficking, and are accused of bribing security and migration agencies to allow them to reside and trade in the country illegally.
About 700 suspects arrested for looting are due in court on charges of malicious damage to property, theft and arson. It’s hoped the investigation will reveal the objectives of their actions, and put an end to the debate of what the real cause of the unrest is.
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