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Thupeyo Muleya In Durban, South Africa
THE Zimbabwe Exiles Forum has called on the South African government to redefine laws on xenophobia and to set up an emergency court to deal specifically with related crimes.

The organisation’s spokesperson, Trust Ndlovu said yesterday that xenophobia motivated attacks will continue to recur south of the Limpopo River as long as there were no deterrent laws and punitive measures against perpetrators.

So far 100 people have been arrested in South Africa for attacking and looting from foreign nationals in that country.

About 3,000 people have reportedly been displaced.

“The solution to this recurring crime needs a collective approach and in our view the South African parliament should redefine laws on xenophobia and set up an emergency court to deal with these issues just like what they did in 2008.

“From what’s unfolding on the ground the perpetrators are doing as they please knowing that they will be charged with assault or public violence which attracts paltry fines as compared to a situation where one commits a crime knowing the serious consequences,” said Ndlovu.

He said though the situation was relatively calm in Durban following President Jacob Zuma’s visit to the areas on Saturday they were still sceptical on the recurrence of other attacks.

Ndlovu said it was high time for Sadc and the AU to act decisively on the continued attacks on immigrants in South Africa.

“We’re appealing to regional bodies to engage South Africa to ensure that they protect all citizens including foreign nationals within their borders in line with the Geneva Convention of 1993.

“They need to make sure that the instrument is implemented as a matter of principle and urgently” said Ndlovu.

He said it was very important for African countries to act in solidarity in addressing the issue of xenophobia and ensure that people lived in harmony.

“There is a strong need for serious political engagements and commitments by African leaders if we’re to move ahead and avoid such unnecessary crimes” he said.

Ndlovu also added that they were equally worried about the plight of those foreign nationals who had been forced to seek refuge in holding camps across Durban adding that they were working with interested parties to ensure that they were accorded the necessary assistance.

He said the forum together with other concerned players were closely monitoring the situation in Johannesburg were attacks on immigrants are being perpetrated at night in some settlements around the city.

“We’re also concerned at the institutionalised xenophobia from the police in Limpopo whom we’re told are beating up and harassing illegal immigrants in Polokwane” said Ndlovu.

Xenophobia motivated attacks on foreigners have been on the recurrence in South Africa especially in Gauteng and Limpopo provinces where a certain section of South Africans accuses foreigners of taking away their jobs against a 25 percent unemployment rate.

Last year five shops, two houses and two vehicles belonging to Zimbabweans were burnt in Marapong Suburb, Liphalale by a South African mob who accused them of taking away all business and job opportunities.

In 2008 over 50,000 foreigners mainly Zimbabweans were displaced south of the Limpopo during the xenophobic attacks which left 62 foreigners dead.