Online ReporterSunday News Reporter
The Maqeda family, originally from Zimbabwe, is facing a dire situation after being forced to flee their home country due to attacks and persecution.
Their uncle, Nkanyiso Maqeda, a senior official of the opposition MDC party, held a prominent position as the director of Information and Publicity.
In search of safety and a better life, the Maqeda family relocated to South Africa, where they managed to establish a few businesses. However, their hopes for a peaceful existence were shattered when they became victims of renewed attacks through the Operation Dudula xenophobic campaign.
A close relative, who requested to remain anonymous, stated that Nkanyiso’s extended family members, including Lynette Lerato Makhurane, Nkosikhona Maqeda, Justin Maqeda, and Sibongile Makhurane, had also faced targeting in Zimbabwe.
The family believed that by leaving their home country, they would find refuge in South Africa. Unfortunately, their Zimbabwean nationality became a trigger for the subsequent attacks they endured.
“It’s devastating,” the relative disclosed. “After years of thinking we had finally found peace and security, we are now faced with renewed violence and hatred. We are trapped in a difficult situation where we cannot return to Zimbabwe, and staying in South Africa has become increasingly dangerous. We feel completely stranded.”
The Maqeda family is now appealing to the South African government for protection and assistance. Their plea is rooted in a simple desire to live in peace and contribute positively to their new community. They urge the authorities to take immediate action to address the ongoing xenophobic attacks and ensure the safety of all those affected.
The predicament faced by the Maqeda family highlights the challenges encountered by many Zimbabwean exiles who have sought refuge from political persecution, only to find themselves exposed to xenophobic violence in their host countries.
Bongani Ndlovu