Tough penalties for xenophobic attacks
2010-09-26 18:40
Johannesburg - People guilty of xenophobic attacks faced harsh punishment, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Sunday.
He said included long prison terms.
Foreign migrants, who are often accused by locals of taking their jobs and contributing to the high crime rate, are estimated to make up more than 10% of South Africa's population of roughly 49 million. Many of them are Zimbabweans who have fled economic collapse at home.
In July, the army was called in to help police patrol the Kya Sands informal settlement north of Johannesburg after assaults on foreign nationals injured at least 11 people and increased concerns of a fresh wave of xenophobic attacks.
In 2008, a series of attacks on foreigners killed 62 people, damaging investor confidence in the country.
"We must continue to be vigilant against any evidence of xenophobia against the African immigrants," said Mthethwa.
"It is fundamentally wrong and unacceptable that we should treat people who come to us as friends as though they are our enemies," he was quoted as saying.
Mthethwa said locals who targeted businesses and property belonging to foreigners for destruction would also be dealt with severely, but did not give further details.
He called on both South Africans and foreigners to help police fight crime.