Palestine solidarity organisation BDS South Africa has expressed its concern around the treatment of hundreds of foreigners affected by the violence in Kwz-Zulu Natal this past week. Forty six people have been arrested so far, and least five people killed, including a teenager, since the violence flared in Isipingo, outside Durban on Friday. On Tuesday, tensions reached a head as foreign shop owners took up arms to protect themselves from locals.

“We have seen terrible images of our African brothers brutalised and have felt the collective pain of fellow South Africans who in vast majority oppose right wing anti-immigrant behaviour. South Africa is not a xenophobic country, it is a progressive country which – though we have various socio-economic problems- hosts hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers , refugees and immigrants,” said BDS South Africa.

The organisation said the incredible response by South Africans as a whole, civil society organisations as well as the South African government has been positive. In response to the violence the President Jacob Zuma has publicly condemned the violence and immediately set up a response team of various government ministers to encourage unity and integration between the displaced persons and their host communities.

“South African authorities are not adding fuel to the xenophobic sentiments but are fighting endlessly to regain stability and protect the safety of immigrants. Politicians are being supportive and civil society has been proactively assisting with humanitarian assistance and solidarity events,” said the organisation.

BDS South Africa will be supporting and speaking at the upcoming #StopXenophobia solidarity event and prayer in Yeoville (Ward 67 Johannesburg) hosted by the local Ward 67/Joe Slovo ANC and ANC Youth League branches on Saturday 18 April at 2pm at the Yeoville Recreation Centre (Raleigh and Fortesque Street) with Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements Comrade Jacob Mambolo, Deputy Director General of the Department of Home Affairs Comrade Mayihlome Tshwete and various local pastors and priests. VOC