The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), which is organising on Saturday a protest action across the country on the situation in Zimbabwe and the soaring food prices, has added xenophobia to its list of concerns.
Cosatu said on Friday that the recent escalating violent attacks on foreigners in South Africa’s townships was such an urgent matter that it had to be added to the issues to be raised at the marches.
The protests will place further pressure on the government to take stronger action on these issues. The participation of the ANC in the protest action will add to the pressure.
Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven said Friday that “people’s frustration is understandable, but there can be no excuse for placing the blame for these problems on immigrants who have been forced to flee from even worse conditions in other parts of Africa, especially Zimbabwe.”
During Friday’s Parliament session, the Inkatha Freedom Party caucus blamed poor service delivery for the attacks in Alexandra.
According to the opposition party Democratic Alliance, the attacks were caused by the government’s failure to properly control and regulate immigration into South Africa.
Meanwhile, ANC president Jacob Zuma told a graduation ceremony at the University of Zululand Friday that he was outraged at the manner in which foreigners had been treated in parts of the country.
“Xenophobia has no place in a democratic, free country like ours. Our people should avoid taking out frustrations they face because of unemployment or crime on immigrants,” he said.
Organisations taking part in Saturday’s protest marches include the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP), as well as civil society organisations such as the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum in South Africa, the Swaziland Solidarity Network, South African NGO Coalition, Disabled People of South Africa, the Treatment Action Campaign and the Anti- Privatisation Forum.
Source African Press Agency
