Government calling on communities to help stop xenophobia


 Jaimie-faith Poonah
21 April 2015
 
Government has called on communities to continue to help quell violence and the attack on foreign-nationals.
Government has commended the police on the swift arrest of three suspects who allegedly attacked and murdered Mozambican national Emmanuel Sithole.
It is believed that Sithole was a street vendor and the suspects took goods from his stall without paying which resulted in an argument and he was stabbed.
Acting Cabinet Spokesperson Phumla Williams said “we cannot allow this to happen in our name as a country and as government we also wish to reiterate that we want communities to work with the police.
Williams said we discourage any groupings that seek to take the law into their own hands, it is not going to solve the problem, and we appeal to communities to work with government rather than to take the law into their own hands”.
 Meanwhile the South African National Editors Forum said media organisations can contribute in curbing the attacks on foreign-nationals by fostering tolerance among communities.
Sanef has condemned the attacks in the strongest possible way and has called for peace.
Sanef Executive Director Mathatha Tsedu said “the chairperson of Sanef, Mpumelelo Mkhabela urge all colleagues in the media to do their best in ensuring that while they accurately and fairly report on the attacks, as they have been doing, they also do whatever they can to assist communities of different backgrounds to find each other.
Tsedu said “we are concerned that some of the criminal elements behind these attacks of foreigners are targeting journalists to prevent them from doing their work.
Society needs to build a culture of tolerance of which media freedom will be a threat to those who seek to profit from violence not reported in the media, Tsedu added.
 
 
 
 

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