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South Africans stage protest against xenophobia

Thursday, 23 April 2015 2:32 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 24 April 2015 7:09 AM ]

People attend a silent vigil against xenophobia at Constitution Hill in the South African city of Johannesburg, April 21, 2015. © AFP

Thousands of people in South Africa have held a massive demonstration to voice their anger at the recent spate of deadly xenophobic violence in the country.

Protesters took to the streets of South Africa's economic capital, Johannesburg, on Thursday to condemn the ongoing atrocities against immigrants.

People carried banners and placards, reading "We are all Africans,” "Africa unite," and "Say no to xenophobia."

David Makhura, the premier of Gauteng Province, of which Johannesburg is the capital, said, "This march sends an important message to the world, to Africans," adding, "We are here to make sure that South Africa is a country of peace for all."

The rally was organized by a number of civil society bodies and trade unions to express “the overwhelming rejection of heinous xenophobic acts” in the African state.

During a similar march held in the city of Durban last week, police clashed with a number of demonstrators.

Several weeks of violence in major cities like Johannesburg and Durban have seen at least seven people killed, with the police failing to control the violent mobs who keep attacking foreigners.

Over 300 people have been arrested by the police in connection with the xenophobic violence gripping South Africa. The unrest has also forced thousands of immigrants to abandon their homes.

Displaced people, who fled anti-immigrant violence, are seen in a camp in the village of Primrose, 15 kilometers east of the South African city of Johannesburg, April 19, 2015. © AFP

Some 7,000 immigrants from countries such as Malawi, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are reportedly living in South African refugee camps.

The recent violence has strained South Africa’s relations with regional governments as many migrants have decided to leave, creating worries in their home countries.

South African President Jacob Zuma has vowed to tackle the continuing violence perpetrated against foreigners. This is while troops have been sent in to support police in their crackdown on xenophobic attacks.

The latest unrest has revived memories of the xenophobic bloodshed in 2008, when 62 people were killed in Johannesburg's townships.

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