HRC: Change xenophobia policy
2008-09-23 21:29
Special Report
A third man has been arrested for the killing of Siphiwe Madondo in May 2008, at the start of a wave of xenophobic attacks throughout the country.
Pretoria - A policy change is needed to tackle xenophobia, SA Human Rights Commission deputy chair Zonke Majodina said on Tuesday.
"South Africa alone cannot deal with xenophobia... with the movements of people, particularly people that are undocumented," she told a xenophobia seminar in Pretoria.
She said that according to research, undocumented migration was on the rise and that undocumented people had been victimised not only by South Africans, but by the law as well.
She added that although the government had addressed the matter, a collective effort was necessary.
"What we are arguing for is that the movement of people as well as problems of temporary migration can only be resolved collectively, not by one country. We are due for a policy change," Majodina said.
She said the xenophobic attacks that started in May and that led to the loss of over 60 lives, was a result of political, economic and social problems facing the country.
- SAPA