World opinion is coming down hard and fast on South Africaover the spiraling violence against non citizen Africans
and the horrific scenes captured on the global media in live
television coverage and with photographs speak volumes
and need no further explanation.
Both in Uganda and Kenya but also across the East African
region opinion is united that these perpetrators of such
unspeakable acts of violence, torture and murder have indeed
a short memory.
Many South Africans were hosted as refugees during the struggle
in countries whose citizens are now killed in brutal fashion by
frenzied mobs while the South African security forces were
agonizingly slow to respond.
Of course there has been talk to even boycott INDABA to make
a point, over this and over the unacceptable way Visa applications
from East Africa are treated by South Africa, as if to erect
the proverbial Berlin Wall against the rest of the continent.
Tourism and business gurus in South Africa are horrified too
but perhaps more over the prospects of losing out and seeing
their reputation dented and also belatedly now rushed to go
public with their own version and views.
Here is a media release from Brand South Africa and I think
my readers will read, the text and between the lines:
PRESS RELEASE
Statement from Brand South Africa on the current developments in South Africa, 17 April 2015
Brand South Africa joins the rest of the country in condemning the acts of violence
JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, April 17, 2015/ — Brand South Africa (http://www.southafrica.info) joins the rest of the country in condemning the acts of violence that have been levelled against some foreign national residing in some of the nine provinces of South Africa.
We assure all our partners in the continent that South Africa stands firmly against all intolerances such as racism, xenophobia, homophobia and sexism. As such security forces are hard at work around the clock to protect vulnerable communities in the country.
The country remains true to its founding ethos that any problems or issues of concern by South African citizens must be resolved peacefully and through dialogue.
Brand South Africa assures our partners that South Africans are generally not xenophobic; this is attested to by the high number of foreign nationals who have been successfully integrated into communities all over our country, in towns, cities and villages.
Preliminary work done towards resolving this current challenge indicates that the root causes are socio-economic issues that have been raised and are being attended to by all South African role players.
Brand South Africa expresses its sincere sympathies to the regrettable loss of lives and injuries suffered during this unfortunate occurrence.
We are one Africa bound by many areas of commonalities and our spirit of UBUNTU (humanity – I am because you are) will prevail even under the trying circumstances.
