Violence against foreigners condemned

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Following the violent unrest in Asla Park, Mossel Bay, against foreigners last weekend, the Western Cape Government has strongly condemned all acts of lawlessness, intimidation and violence against foreign nationals.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde released a statement after an extended cabinet meeting with senior police officials on 3 June, in which he appealed to the police to improve intelligence gathering to prevent any further unrest.

Winde also said mediators have been deployed to defuse tensions, and that he has offered all available resources to the police and other relevant authorities to quell any further violence.

“South Africa is a constitutional democracy, and frustrations about immigration policy must be addressed through lawful processes and by the relevant authorities. No individual or group has the right to take the law into their own hands,” he said.

“Any acts of xenophobic violence are not only morally wrong, but also threaten economic stability and the safety of all residents in the province. Such actions undermine the values of dignity, respect and the rule of law.”

Locals have also been called on to reject the incitement of violence or those who seek to sow division, and Winde has urged the national government to strengthen its immigration management systems and ensure that immigration laws are effectively enforced.

The Mossel Bay Municipality has said the situation remains stable. About 150 people who were displaced during the unrest remain in Mossel Bay, with the majority having left on 1 and 2 June.

Those who remain are being accommodated at a municipal community facility, and their consulates are arranging their relocation.

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