Riyaz Patel
The majority of South Africans are against the violence being meted out against African migrants and refugees in the country, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni told delegates at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa.
Mboweni said the authorities were dealing with the matter.
“Here in SA, we are going through a very difficult time of these animosities that have been generated and the violence, but there are responsible authorities dealing with that. But central to solving the issue is not just an issue of the police or whatever, it’s a political question,” said Mboweni.
He was speaking during the opening plenary session of the world event Thursday delivering a speech on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa was addressing a crowd protesting against gender violence at Parliament.
After delivering the president’s speech, Mboweni told the audience: “We welcome all Africans who have come to this conference, we welcome all Africans who live in South Africa. We are all Africans, God bless this nation.“
The violence of recent days affecting foreign migrants has cast a shadow over the forum, one that Mboweni went on to address during question time.
“If a South African wants to live in Abuja, they should be free to do so. If a Nigerian wants to live in Johannesburg they should be free to do so – these artificial barriers and this hatred we’ve created among ourselves must really be a thing of the past.“
Mboweni told the session it was more a political issue than a policing issue.
“We have to go to our people and discuss politically that what some of them are doing is wrong. The majority of South Africans are against what’s happening. The majority of South Africans are appalled.“
Mboweni said the free movement of goods on the continent to improve intra-African trade was dependent on the free movement of people.
Following the attacks on South African embassies and business’ in Nigeria and Zambia, protesters in the DRC attacked the SA consulate and looted South African-owned stores in reprisal for attacks on foreigners in and around Johannesburg.
The news was quickly followed by an announcement from AirTanzania that it will be suspending flights to South Africa because of the violence and threats of attacks on foreigners.
Madagascar cancelled its friendly game with South Africa, after Zambia pulled out of this weekend clash with Bafana Bafana.
