Pahad condemns 'dastardly acts'

2008-05-14 19:21

Cape Town - Attacks on foreigners in South Africa are "dastardly acts" which pose a grave threat to democracy, warned Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad on Wednesday.

Opening debate on his budget vote in the National Assembly, he said the latest spate of xenophobic attacks "must be condemned in the strongest terms".

Violence flared across Alexandra in Johannesburg on Tuesday evening for the third night in a row, with police battling to contain an armed mob seeking to drive all foreigners out of the township.

Pahad said such acts had no place in South Africa.

"Political mobilisation on the basis of xenophobia poses grave threats to progressive forces in our society and to our democracy.

"We would not be here today were it not for the tremendous sacrifices made by our brothers and sisters in the front-line states. They treated all of us in exile with the utmost respect and dignity.

He said xenophobia and the related acts of violence against fellow African brothers and sisters had no place in a democratic South Africa and must be condemned in the strongest terms.

"I wish to extend my sympathies and condolences to the families of those who have been injured and killed in these dastardly acts," Pahad said.

- SAPA