CONTROVERSIAL Johannesburg mayor, Herman Mashaba, who has been on record accusing foreigners of fuelling crime in South Africa’s commercial capital, made a U-turn yesterday when he issued a statement condemning planned demonstrations against immigrants.
BY KHANYILE MLOTSHWA/ SILAS NKALA
“Protests against foreign nationals are not a cure for joblessness and crime. I am deeply concerned to hear reports of xenophobic attacks and planned protests, which aim to target foreign nationals residing within communities across Gauteng,” he said.
“I would like to state outright that I condemn xenophobia and my administration will do everything in its power to prevent any outburst of xenophobic violence in our city. There is no place for xenophobia in the City of Johannesburg.”
Mashaba insisted that Johannesburg is a “city built by and made up of migrants from all over the world.”
“We are the pride of our country and continent and we cannot allow for foreign nationals to be scapegoated for the failures of previous administrations to fulfil its promises. There are many people who, out of desperation due to political, social and economic instability in their countries, are seeking a better life in South Africa.
“It is essential that national government cleans up its act and ensures that there is quick and efficient processing of asylum seekers and refugees. This would protect those who wish to legitimately enter our country from criminal elements, including slum lords and drug traffickers, who abuse their desperation and are able to evade the law.”
Mashaba noted that “foreign nationals buy goods in our country, create businesses and stimulate economic growth.”
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“This is key to our vision of a prosperous and inclusive city,” he said. “I call on all residents living in our city, no matter where you are from, to respect the law. Rightfully, communities feel frustrated and burdened by the reality of not having jobs which permit them to support themselves and their loved ones and, of course, we must reject criminality in all its forms within our communities.
“However, attacks on foreign nationals is an unfortunate misdirection of the community’s demand for safety and jobs. Equally, we can never accept lawlessness in our city and any criminal, whether a South African national or a foreign national must be apprehended. By working together with our foreign brothers and sisters and by all of us observing the rule of law, we can create safe, integrated and prosperous communities for mutual benefit,” he said.
“Instead of planned xenophobic marches, the national government should be held to account for its failure to create meaningful and sustainable economic growth for our country and to secure our borders.”
Mashaba recently courted controversy after he lashed out at foreign nationals doing menial jobs in South Africa, accusing them of fuelling the crime rate, particularly in Johannesburg.
