Locals march to condemn attacks on foreign nationals

The attacks on foreign nationals started in KwaZulu-Natal and have since spread to different parts of Gauteng, including Boksburg.

Led by the Reiger Park police, community patrollers and community leaders, a crowd of local people, mostly women carrying placards urging people to stop xenophobia, marched through the township from 10am till noon.

They chanted slogans that ‘foreigners should stay’.

Several speakers encouraged residents to refrain from any form of violence and called for the police to deal decisively with criminals who are carrying out the acts of violence against foreigners.

A community leader, Gloria Thousand, told attendees that violence towards foreigners, such as killing and looting of their shops, can never solve their issues.

She said it reflects badly on them as residents and closes the door on the opportunity to network.

Thousand called for all residents of Ramaphosa, including foreigners, to stand together against violence.

Community leader Johannes Ramaropene condemned the acts of violence against foreign nationals and has also called on all community members to take a stand against the attacks.

He said they still remember what happened in 2008 when scores of families lost their loved ones due to xenophobic attacks in the township.

“We have all seen that movie in 2008 and we don’t want to watch it again. If there is a problem let’s employ the right channels to address it and not attack each other‚” said Ramaropene.

He also called for authorities to engage with all the relevant parties to seek a solution to the underlying cause of the attacks.

Some locals have accused African immigrants of taking jobs and opportunities away from South Africans.

Locals also claimed that some South African companies are giving preference to foreigners, because they employ them for cheap labour.

Specific allegations made against Nigerians were that they bring drugs into the country and thus destroy communities.

Simphiwe Sokothi, a resident from Ramaphosa, said that while he did not condone the beating and killing of foreigners, he still insisted foreigners leave South Africa because they are taking jobs.

“Government must intervene and stop dragging its heels on this issue, because we South Africans are suffering because of the influx of several thousand foreigners. They must go,” shouted Sokothi.

Ramaphosa has, in the past couple of years, been the centre of xenophobic tension, where scores of foreigners and South Africans were killed and others injured in xenophobic attacks.

Most of the victims were Mozambicans and Zimbabweans who had fled political repression and dire economic circumstances in their countries.

Foreign shop owners began returning to their businesses on Saturday, April 18, to resume trading.

One of the foreign shop owners, Adenw Wonha, said he is convinced that the vast majority of the residents of Ramaphosa are against xenophobia.

“I love the community of Ramaphosa and I know they love us too,” said Wonha.

Police and community leaders have vowed that they would do everything they can to help stop violence in the communities.