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Another Xenophobic attack in Johannesburg

category southern africa | migration / racism | non-anarchist press author Saturday April 12, 2008 00:13author by People Against Suffering Suppression Oppression and Poverty. - PASSOP Report this post to the editors

We are appalled by the xenophobic attack in Diepsloot. The attack started at 7.30am this morning. At least thirty shacks were destroyed and more than 100 people displaced.

We are appalled by the xenophobic attack in Diepsloot. The attack started at 7.30am this morning. At least thirty shacks were destroyed and more than 100 people displaced. We are further aggravated by reports that there was a meeting with the police, a councillor and the community last night in which the community openly declared the attack would follow. In response, several hours after the attacks had started the police eventually came to disperse the crowd. When they arrived they were seen laughing and apparently made 20 arrests but of Zimbabweans not of South Africans. The police have completely disregarded the rights of immigrants. They arrested Zimbabweans for being undocumented, a situation which the refugee centres have forced Zimbabweans into through their lack of service delivery. We are outraged by the reports of South Africans shouting that they must go back and vote. The South African government must act on the Zimbabwean situation and South Africa must accept and document the influx until the situation is resolved in Zimbabwe. We have stated we will protest about the lack of involvement by the South African government in the Zimbabwean crisis and will mobilise our masses, along with civic movements, community organisations and human right activist movements within 2weeks.

Braam Hanekom (PASSOP)
0832561140

Related Link: http://passop.co.za
author by Jon - ZACFpublication date Sat Apr 12, 2008 04:58author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The day before the attacks the community of Diepsloot apparently had a meeting with the ward councilor and the police about crime. The police and councilor are alleged to have said that the immigrants (about 1/3 of Diepsloot) were responsible for crime in the community/ country. The community members present are alleged to have then declared that they would get rid of the immigrants.

The following day the police were conducting roadblocks and arresting illegal immigrants. At the same time community members, supposedly under the guise of the ANC-dominated Community Policing Forum began targeting immigrants living in shacks in the township. They allegedly called one another 'comrades', raided people's shacks, beating them and damaging their property. It is said that they declared their intention to force immigrants in Diepsloot back to their countries of origin (primarily Zimbabwe).

Just a few weeks ago members of the Community Policing Forum (supposedly an initiative to involve community members in combating crime) were involved in a hunt of social movements activists in Sebokeng, south of Johannesburg. It seems that the ANC-dominated CPF may just be a vigilante group to protect ANC interests, and prevent alternatives from forming. The CPF's role in this xenophobic attack is unsure, except maybe for playing a major part in scapegoating immigrants for the misery that is caused, not by immigrants, but the ANC's neo-liberal policy.

author by Active Resistancepublication date Sat Apr 12, 2008 22:45author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Another Statement of Solidarity by a new anti-authoritarian group from Johannesburg can be found here:

Related Link: http://www.anarkismo.net/newswire.php?story_id=8605
 
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