Almost three weeks of ongoing anti-migrant violence in South Africa have killed at least six people. The most recent attack took place on Saturday in the city of Johannesburg, with small armed groups attacking several local shops owned by foreigners.
South Africa condemns the recent wave of attacks against immigrants from other parts of Africa and arrested 307 suspected perpetrators to date, South African Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba said.”Once again, I need to vocally condemn killing of our brothers and sisters from other parts of the African continent. No amount of frustration or anger can justify these attacks and looting of shops,” Gigaba said as quoted by the BBC.
On Saturday, South African President Jacob Zuma canceled his visit to Indonesia over the attacks at home.
“@soulbabang: I Condemn South Africa’s xenophobia. RETWEET if you do same. @Gidi_Traffic pic.twitter.com/aAupp3dBKS
— GIDITRAFFIC (@Gidi_Traffic) April 17, 2015
In March, traditional leader of the Zulu nation King Goodwill Zwelithini reportedly blamed foreigners, who had moved to South Africa in large numbers since the white-minority rule ended in the 1990s, for a high crime rate. The Zulu king urged the expatriates to return to their native countries, contributing to the hike in violence.