South Africa 'sorry' for attacks on Africans

By Moses Walubiri

SOUTH Africa's acting High Commissioner to Uganda Wendy Swartz has rendered an "unreserved apology" to the African continent for the spate of xenophobic attacks targeting African immigrants in her country describing them as "criminal and unacceptable."

Wendy said the deadly attacks on African immigrants, whose countries of origin offered refugee to thousands of South Africans during the dark Apartheid days and  supported the subsequent struggle to end the iniquitous supremacist system is a betrayal to the continent.  

Over the last few days, South African police has been battling irate machete wielding crowds setting immigrant businesses ablaze in attacks that have claimed the lives of seven people.

"I would like to reiterate the position of our government on this issue. There is no excuse for what is taking place. Whatever amount of frustration among South Africans, what is happening is pure criminality and it's inexcusable," Wendy told the press earlier today.

At the same briefing, permanent secretary ministry of foreign affairs, James Mugume revealed that government has set up an inter-ministerial team that is "keenly following the situation in South Africa" with the aim of securing the estimated 200,000 Ugandans in that country.  

"The African continent offered hospitality to South Africans during the struggle against apartheid. But I want to make it clear that no Ugandan has died in these attacks," Wendy added.

Wendy revealed that immigrants have had a positive influence on South Africa's economy reiterating her government's positive policy on legal migrants.

Despite the periodic xenophobic attacks that have tended to cast the 'rainbow nation' in bad light, South Africa has one of the most liberal policies on  immigrants in the world, striving to integrate immigrants in its community instead of barricading them in refugee camps.

Asked whether her country is willing to compensate victims of the attacks, Wendy without explicitly answering in the affirmative said it's possible since victims of similar attacks in the past have been compensated.

In 2008, South Africa witnessed xenophobic attacks on immigrants, with a poignant photo of a Mozambican immigrant set ablaze by a rowdy mob jolting the conscience of South Africans.

Mugume ruled out evacuation of Ugandans in South Africa saying Kampala had got assurance from Pretoria that the situation has almost returned to normalcy.

Top South Africans officials on Friday met ambassadors from all African countries and assured them that their nationals would be protected.

South African president, Jacob Zuma in an address to parliament last week, too, decried the attacks saying; "The attacks violate all the values that South Africa embodies, especially the respect for human life and human rights."

"The most important thing is to get information about where Ugandans are in South Africa so that they can get help from our mission in Pretoria," Mugume said.

High unemployment has fuelled tension between ordinary South Africans and foreigners, with the former accusing the latter of taking their jobs.