I interviewed a resident of Zandspruit in regards to the recent attacks on foreigners. I wanted to get an idea on what was going on there and the reasons for the xenophobic attacks. Here is what Florence Gumede (not her real name) had to say:

JS: Have you seen firsthand any of the xenophobic attacks?

FG: Yes. A group of people burned down a shack near to where I live. The shack belonged to a Mozambique citizen who has been in this country for a number of years. Luckily he was not there at the time. People are still waiting around to see if he will return.

JS: Now that the army has been deployed and their is a strong police presence, do you think that the attacks are now over?

FG: Not at all. People are tired of living the way they are. These attacks are only a beginning - they will not stop!

JS: What do people think of the politicians and ANC leaders who have visited these areas to try and bring about peace?

FG: They do not understand us. They live in a different world where they are rich and get what they want. They can never understand our feelings and problems. For them they just don’t exist.

JS: Surely peace is a good way to go. Couldn’t we listen to the politicians and maybe they will listen to us?

FG: (laughs) Look at what they are doing! The foreigners go to the police station and the churches. There they are given food and blankets. Here our own people go hungry. Why doesn’t the government help their own people?

JS: Why target the foreigners and not the government then?

FG: The foreigners are criminals. They bring their crime to South Africa and everyone thinks we are the criminals. They steal from everyone. There are so many foreigners here illegally and they steal jobs which South African people could have had. If the foreigners leave then our people can get jobs and feed their families.

JS: Don’t you think that these foreigners are innocent? After all many have left their own countries just to find a better life for their families.

FG: The problem is that the government has done nothing to protect us from the foreigner invasion. These people come here - thousands each month. The government just lets them and doesn’t kick them out. If the government won’t listen to the complaints of the people then we will take action ourselves. The government have forgotten about the struggle and hard living!

JS: Some people have insinuated that these attacks have been planned and executed by a “third force” and that possibly Inkhata Freedom Party has been involved. Have you seen evidence of that?

FG: Not at all! The “third force” is just the people. The people are tired of this government that doesn’t listen. The people are taking action.

JS: How long do you think these attacks will go on? Until the government listens?

FG: The attacks will never stop! At least not until the government listens to the people and takes action. We don’t see that they will do this. They always promise us things but never keep their word. The fight will go on until all the foreigners are back at their homes.

JS: What if all the foreigners go home? Do you think that the situation will improve?

FG: Yes. More people will have jobs and can live like normal people. Crime will go down and we can have a good country.

JS: And what if things do not improve at that stage?

FG: I don’t know.

JS: What about the human rights of the foreigners? What about our constitution?

FG: These politicians talk of ideal things but we live in the real world. If they don’t listen to us, why should we listen to them? The rights of the people of South Africa should come before the rights of the foreigners. What about our human rights?

JS: What do you want the government to do?

FG: Send the foreigners back home. Create jobs for the people, Fix the crime. Understand the common people. Stop raising prices on everything. Let us live out lives without worrying all the time. Give us dignity.

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Posted May 23rd, 2008 by J.S. in Crime, Government, Politics | Trackback

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