Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
THE Embassy of Zimbabwe in South Africa has warned its nationals to be extra-vigilant and keep a low profile amid reports of rising xenophobic tensions and sporadic violence in several communities.
This follows recent threats and ongoing anti-migrant protests across South Africa, some of which have turned violent.
Xenophobic attacks on migrants have become a perennial phenomenon in South Africa, which is home to many people from across the globe, some of whom are in that country illegally.
Hundreds of foreign nationals have often fallen victim to such attacks, with some being displaced while others have met their deaths at the hands of local mobs or vigilante groups.
There are reports of foreign-owned shops being shut down by xenophobic gangs in the Eastern Cape, with similar anti-immigrant campaigns taking place in Durban and central Johannesburg.
These campaigns have been styled as “clean-up” operations by groups such as March and March, but video evidence shows what appear to be locals confronting foreigners and demanding that they return to their own countries.
It is also understood that more violent protests have been planned for May 4.
In an advisory note, the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Pretoria said it had received reports of disturbing demonstrations by South Africans targeting foreign nationals.
“The Consulates of Zimbabwe in Johannesburg and Cape Town have received reports of disturbing demonstrations that are targeting foreign nationals,” said the Embassy in the advisory note.
“These incidents pose a serious risk to the safety and well-being of Zimbabwean nationals residing in South Africa. Zimbabwean nationals are invited to remain vigilant and avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place, stay indoors and limit unplanned movements, and report to the local South African Police Services, Embassy and the Consulate in Johannesburg and Cape Town. In addition, they need to keep essential documents with them all the time.”
The Embassy said the Government remained committed to ensuring the safety, dignity and well-being of its nationals.
Already, the Zimbabwe Exiles’ Forum (ZEF), which is led by Human Rights Lawyer Advocate Gabriel Shumba, has also reiterated the call and commended the Embassy for timeously issuing the advisory note.
He said reports on violent protests were alarming and life-threatening to most migrants.
“We endorse the advice to be careful, within the limitations of trying to make a living. This is because the reports are not only disturbing, but downright alarming, with the potential to be life-threatening, as we have heard in some instances,” said Adv Shumba.
He also appreciated the intervention by some individual countries, including the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, on the contentious matter.
Adv Shumba said many migrants and organisations were hoping that the situation may be de-escalated to ensure that South Africans observe the rule of law and leave law enforcement to the security sector.
“As an organisation, we hope that our bothers and sisters do not fall prey to opportunistic elements sowing unnecessary divisions within the black communities. In the same breath, those in South Africa need to legalise their stay and to desist from crime,” he added.
ZEF officials said they were also alive to the fact that some migrants may opt to stay indoors as a safety precautionary measure.
Adv Shumba said the organisation was looking forward to the enforcement of the law following the condemnation of the protests and violence by authorities.
“We do further hope that the condemnation of violence is followed by practical enforcement. We also urge regional institutions to lobby the government, following President Ramaphosa’s acknowledgement that a lot needs to happen to restore harmony, peace and stability,” he said.
Spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Community in South Africa (ZimCommunitySA), Mr Bongani Mkwananzi, said their fellow countrymen should take serious heed of the advisory note.
He pleaded with his compatriots to avoid getting into unnecessary situations or getting into confrontations with protesters, as the situation was too volatile.
ZimCommunitySA represents the interests of Zimbabweans in the neighbouring country. It has since condemned the violence against foreigners and called for urgent action to bring the culprits to book.
“We take note of the advisory note, and it is very rare for our embassy to issue such a security warning to its nationals. So what this means is that our compatriots will take the warning seriously and make sure they stay safe all the time,” said Mr Mkwananzi.
“We urge them to try to avoid any confrontations or try to get near such demonstrations. It has become a common tendency to scapegoat foreign nationals as a problem in South Africa, yet this is not necessarily true.
“Whatever the problems are, these calls to violence are not very helpful, especially to the image of South Africa, but regardless of these, our compatriots need to stay safe.”
Last week, South Africa’s acting Police Minister, Professor Firoz Cachalia, condemned acts of violence against foreigners and promised to bring the culprits before the courts.
Violence in black South Africans is inbred. Everytime they look at their failure to lift themselves from the subhuman conditions they are in after well over three decades of self rule, they vent their frustrations on what they call illegal foreigners. How can an African be a foreigner on African soil? These are the same people we housed in our countries without conditions when the apartheid machinery was decimating them a few short years ago. When one considers facts on the ground, one sees that there is very little if any problems linked to foreigners especially those claimed to be illegal. How does one determine that one is an undocumented immigrant unless one is assessed by the system? Most non South Africans are gainfully employed and pay for everything they get. They are employed by South Africans and in South African companies, on South African farms and businesses. Why are they then targeted by the same people that employ them? How do foreigners take jobs from South Africans as if these jobs are fruits hanging from trees? It makes no sense at all. By the way, we ought to be very careful. These demos have tacit backing from South African authorities. Do not be fooled by statements being made by President Ramaphosa and other senior South African government officials condemning the violent demos. They don’t mean what they say. Behind the scenes, police and other authorities are fanning the violence. If there are illegal foreigners in South Africa, the government must round them up, put them in camps and deport them. While other SADC countries are talking of serious integration of their people by removing strict border controls, South Africa is erecting walls and fences along its borders like Donald Trump in the USA. Meanwhile there is virtually nothing for black people to protect in the country. Almost the whole economy is run on white owned capital 30+ years after independence. Blacks in South Africa should stop toyi-toying and start working for their welfare. The time for street marching protesting is long gone.