SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa mourns victims of xenophobic violence that claimed 62 lives

Record ID: 452662

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa mourns victims of xenophobic violence that claimed 62 lives
  • Date: 5th July 2008
  • Summary: (AD1) PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (JULY 03, 2008) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CITY HALL CANDLES LIT IN MEMORY OF XENOPHOBIA VICTIMS/ PEOPLE SITTING XENOPHOBIA VICTIMS ATTENDING CEREMONY SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI ATTENDING CEREMONY VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND DELEGATES SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT, THABO MBEKI, SAYING: "We have gathered here today to convey to all Africans everywhere, to all African nations several and collectively to our own people and to the families of people who where murdered, our sincere condolences and our heart felt apologies that Africans in our country committed unpardonable crimes against other Africans." PEOPLE LISTENING "We have convened here to express our pain that today we are fellow Africans from various African countries from Somalia, the DRC, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Malawi and others who are quarantined in temporary camps separated from the African communities in which they lived peacefully as fellow Africans until the dark days of May that descended upon them without warning. We are meeting here today to pledge that we will do everything necessary to ensure that as Africans regardless of our geographical origins we will once more live together as Africans at peace with one another refusing to impose on ourselves a new apartheid order." PEOPLE LISTENING AND CANDLES BURNING
  • Embargoed: 20th July 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVADZ9SPQKKWQDIR9BZZHA6DB4H8
  • Story Text: In a national show of remorse, South Africa has mourned victims of the xenophobic attacks that left at least 62 people dead and thousands of people, mostly foreigners, homeless around the country.
    South Africa on Thursday (July 3) observed a day of mourning for victims of recent xenophobia attacks in which 62 people died and tens of thousands fled from their homes.
    The bloodshed stoked fears of political instability in Africa's richest economy at a time when it was moving ahead with preparations to host the 2010 soccer World Cup. An estimated 500,000 foreign visitors are expected for the tournament.
    President Thabo Mbeki who attended a candle-lit remembrance in Pretoria, blamed instead common criminals for the wave of deadly attacks on African migrants, but expressed his nation's regret and deep embarrassment at the bloodshed.
    Mbeki has been criticised for reacting slowly when mobs rioted in townships around Johannesburg and other cities, for two weeks in May, beating foreigners and looting and burning their properties.
    The attacks, which only ended after the army was deployed, were deeply embarrassing to Mbeki. His government has opened its doors to millions of African migrant workers and refugees and made African unity a cornerstone of its foreign policy.

    "We have gathered today to convey to all Africans everywhere, to all African nations several and collectively to our own people and to the families of the people who where murdered our sincere condolences and our heart felt apologies that Africans in our country committed unpardonable crimes against other Africans," Mbeki said.

    "We have convened here to express our pain that today we are fellow Africans from various African countries from Somalia, the DRC, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Malawi and others who are quarantined in temporary camps separated from the African communities in which they lived peacefully as fellow Africans until the dark days of May that descended upon them without warning. We are meeting here today to pledge that we will do everything necessary to ensure that as Africans regardless of our geographical origins we will once more live together as Africans at peace with one another refusing to impose on ourselves a new apartheid order," said Mbeki.
    Tensions between native-born South Africans and immigrants have risen due to growing competition for housing and jobs and the impact of soaring food and fuel prices.
    Unemployment in South Africa hovers around 24 percent. The situation has been exacerbated by rising anger over the government's failure to provide electricity, sewage facilities and other basic services to many poor residents.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register