Transformation Alliance pens Jacob Zuma on xenophobia
Transformation Alliance (TA) has written South African President, Jacob Zuma, condemning the xenophobic attacks happening in the rainbow nation, demanding an end to the barbaric acts.
The statement that has been signed by TA National Chairperson, Moses Kunkuyu, states that the violent acts do not only halt economic activity but also destroy property and lives.
It says that the youth, women, the physically challenged and girl children experience compounded violations like sexual assault.
“Children often become displaced and orphaned during these times of strife. All this, drastically reduces the participation levels of the citizens in matters of governance. We have regrettably noted that certain statements that are made by some leaders in your country like the Mayor of Johannesburg lately and a remark that was made by you, Mr. President, on the poor state of roads in Malawi, which we believe might have been meant to be a joke, have the potential of further exposing foreign nationals and Malawians in particular to the threat of targeted attacks,” reads the statement.
The statement further says TA expects Pretoria to employ serious interventionist measures to stem recurrence of such attacks on innocent foreign nationals and indeed work towards protecting the robust progressive diplomatic relationship between South Africa and the rest of African governments.
“Your Excellency, it is myopic and naive for your government and citizens to regard foreign nationals, particularly Malawians, as mere desperate souls in search of job opportunities and not active agents for South Africa’s economic growth.
“You may wish to appreciate, Your Excellency, that Malawians have played a role in enriching South Africa’s exporting endeavours through the expansion of your markets. It would not be reasonable and humane, your Excellency, to allow such hard-working mothers and fathers to be looked at as criminals and drug dealers generically,” reads the statement.
The Alliance then calls on Zuma and the rest of the presidents in Africa to treat the xenophobic attacks as a wakeup call and should bring Africa together and begin to discuss and discover ways of dealing with the ever increasing unemployment on the continent.
South Africans took to the street on Friday amidst rising unemployment in the rainbow nation and exercised rage against foreigners whom they accuse of stealing their jobs.
But the Malawi High Commissioner to South Africa, Chrissie Kaponda, told The Daily Times on Tuesday that no Malawian has so far been affected by the recent spate of attacks that happened in Pretoria
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues
