A riot broke out when a group of foreign nationals living in South Africa marched toward the foreign ministry in the capital Pretoria to express concerns about the renewed anti-foreigner violence in the country.
The police had to use rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse crowds.
Countries majorly affected by the renewed xenophobic attacks are Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Somalia.
Blaming foreigners for their country’s economic troubles, South African locals attack and loot houses, shops and warehouses.
“It is not true that we deal on drugs,” said a Somalian national speaking to SABC.
“We are very peaceful, law-abiding people. We don’t make any trouble and our papers are correct. All of them. This is not about drugs or prostitution, it is just violence driven by hate!”
A foreign national holds a knife following clashes between a group of locals and foreigners in South Africa. |
President Jacob Zuma has condemned the violence.
He said:
“Many citizens of other countries living in South Africa are law abiding and contribute to the economy of the country positively.
“It is wrong to brandish all non-nationals as drug dealers or human traffickers.”
Too baaaaaahd!
This is outrageous