After the xenophobic attacks in downtown Johannesburg, the Honeydew cluster taking pre-emptive measures and the uneasy relationship between Princess informal settlement’s residents and Somalian shopkeepers, Mayor Parks Tau again condemned xenophobia in a recent speech.
Seven people – including Mozambican migrant Emmanuel Sithole – were killed during the recent wave of xenophobic violence that also led to the displacement of thousands of others after they were hounded from their homes by marauding mobs. Sithole, an informal trader, was stabbed to death in broad daylight in Alexandra by thugs who had earlier taken goods from his stall without paying.
Speaking at the City of Johannesburg’s Integrated Development Plan’s (IDP) Stakeholder Summit at Wembley Stadium in Turffontein on Saturday, Tau said no amount of anger or frustration justified killing a fellow human being.
“South Africa recognises everyone’s right to life. It is important that we co-exist. We condemn bigotry and any form of discrimination. During the past week, I have felt extremely embarrassed (by the actions of a few) but in the past few days I have been encouraged by the groundswell of condemnation of xenophobia. We have had interactions with communities and we have noted South Africans’ genuine concerns. But this does not justify taking a life,” said Tau.
