SOUTH AFRICA/TANZANIA: Africa Union plays down escalating South Africa's xenophobic violence

Record ID: 1538716

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA/TANZANIA: Africa Union plays down escalating South Africa's xenophobic violence
  • Date: 24th May 2008
  • Summary: (W4) ARUSHA, TANZANIA (MAY 23, 2008) (REUTERS) AFRICAN UNION (AU) OFFICIALS AT NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) AFRICAN UNION CHAIRMAN, AND TANZANIAN PRESIDENT, JAKAYA KIKWETE, SAYING: "I would say at this point, talk of xenophobic attacks, I think it would be an exaggeration. If it was something that involved every South African but you see it is an isolated incident by some isolated groups, that which the government has identified." AU OFFICIAL (SOUNDBITE) (English) AFRICAN UNION CHAIRMAN, AND TANZANIAN PRESIDENT, JAKAYA KIKWETE, SAYING: "It is an anti climax really when people are looking at movement towards unity, you have this kind of isolated incidents happening so that's where we said what has been very comforting and consoling is that the government of South Africa is quite clear. The ruling party ANC is quite clear and the government of South Africa has been proactive has been taking action so I think that that to us was the satisfaction of the leaders." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) AFRICAN UNION CHAIRMAN, AND TANZANIAN PRESIDENT, JAKAYA KIKWETE, SAYING: "Zimbabwe was not discussed. We looked at the Union government and these two main incidents that had happened. The Zimbabwe issue has been there with us and the AU has clear policies, what is important for us now is the run off to the elections." KIKWETE SHAKING HANDS WITH OTHER AU OFFICIALS SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT, THABO MBEKI WALKING TO CAR/ TALKING TO JOURNALISTS AU MEMBER COUNTRY FLAGS FLYING CARS LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 8th June 2008 09:26
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVACXYFRCO3HY9A64WB3AJ6MWE01
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: African Union chair says South Africa attacks on foreigners are "isolated incidents" as police in Cape Town opens fire on looters in increasing attacks on immigrant-owned business.
    South Africa's security chief on Friday (May 23) accused right-wingers linked to the former apartheid government of fanning xenophobic violence that has spread to South Africa's second largest city and tourist centre.
    Police said mobs attacked Somalis and Zimbabweans overnight in Cape Town and looted their homes and shops.
    More shops were looted in Lwandle township near Strand, north of Cape Town, and Knysna, a resort town on the southwest coast.
    Hundreds of migrants were evacuated from a squatter camp near Cape Town, hub of the prized tourist industry.
    There were no reports of injuries in the latest violence but at least 42 people have been killed and more than 25,000 driven from their homes in 12 days of attacks by mobs accusing migrants from other parts of Africa of taking jobs and fuelling crime.
    The South African government has come under strong criticism for its slow reaction to the violence, which started in a Johannesburg township on May 11, and for not adequately addressing poverty widely blamed for the bloodshed.
    But Manala Manzini, head of the National Intelligence Agency, told Reuters people linked to former apartheid security forces were stoking the violence.
    Manzini said some of the violence emanated from worker hostels, the origin of much of the township bloodshed during the final years of apartheid between supporters of the now ruling ANC and the Zulu Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
    More than 500 people have been arrested in the violence.
    Authorities said a Malawian man was shot in Durban overnight and three other foreigners were stabbed in North West Province.
    Police expect more attacks over the weekend and said they would seek additional assistance from the military if necessary.
    The South African currency fell sharply earlier this week on the back of the violence before partly recovering on Thursday.
    The violence comes amid power shortages and growing discontent over continuing poverty.
    Soaring food and fuel prices are seen by most analysts as the major factor in pushing tensions between poor South Africans and immigrants to breaking point, also raising concern among investors.
    Officials in the tourism industry, a cornerstone of the economy, are worried overseas visitors will stay away.
    Nearly one million South Africans earn their living from tourism, which accounts for 8 percent of the country's GDP. The country is hoping to draw an additional half a million tourists for the 2010 soccer World Cup.
    Mozambique said that nearly 13,000 migrants and their families had left South Africa since the violence broke out.
    There are an estimated 3 million migrants fleeing Zimbabwe's economic collapse, making them the biggest group among some 5 million immigrants in a country of 50 million people.
    In Tanzania, African Union Chairman Jakaya Kikwete said on Friday (May 23) that attacks on African immigrants were acts of 'thuggery' and 'isolated incidents'.

    "I would say at this point, talk of xenophobic attacks, I think it would be an exaggeration. If it was something that involved every South African... but you see it is an isolated incident by some isolated groups, that which the government has identified," Kikwete said.
    He was speaking in Arusha, northern Tanzania after chairing a meeting of the committee of 12 heads of state and government charged with working towards a union government and ultimately, a United States of Africa.
    South African soldiers have backed police after President Thabo Mbeki approved army intervention to quell unrest that has threatened to destabilise Africa's largest economy.
    Mbeki, who also attended the AU summit, did not comment on the situation back home.
    Kikwete said the summit had not discussed Zimbabwe's but the Africa Union would be closely watching the presidential run off in June.

    "Zimbabwe was not discussed we looked at the Union government and these two main incidents that had happened. The Zimbabwe issue has been there with us and the AU has clear policies, what is important for us now is the run off to the elections," Kikwete said.
    A presidential run off in Zimbabwe is expected on June 27th after official results, which did not emerge for five weeks after the March 29 election, saw Tsvangirai beat Mugabe but fall short of the absolute majority needed for outright victory.
    Zimbabweans hope the run-off will start recovery from an economic collapse that has brought 165,000 percent inflation, 80 percent unemployment, chronic food and fuel shortages and has sent millions fleeing to nearby countries.
    The African Union has often been criticized for its policy of non-interference and not being harsh on member countries accused of questionable democratic process.
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