After violence against foreigners, many of them from elsewhere in Africa, erupted in communities across the country over the past week, the government, civil society and ordinary citizens have condemned the attacks, sought ways to alleviate the suffering, and looked for ways to end the conflict.
Watch: Is South Africa’s brand equity in question after xenophobic attacks?
The wave of xenophobic attacks has brought into question South Africa’s brand equity. Brand South Africa’s acting chief executive officer Alice Puoane joins CNBC Africa senior anchor David Williams to discuss the issue.
Peace restored in communities after xenophobic attacks
29 April 2015 – Peace has returned to South African communities riven by the recent xenophobic violence, and the supply of food, shelter and other support for foreigners forced to flee their homes has been stepped up, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe told a press briefing on Tuesday. MORE >
Watch: Media briefing on xenophobia
28 April 2015 – “We want to reassure those who have plans to travel to South Africa that our government is in charge. The violence has stopped,” Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe told the media at the first briefing by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on migration. MORE >
Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration media briefing statement
28 April 2015 – President Jacob Zuma has appointed an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration to strengthen and broaden the scope of the work started by Ministers Mahlobo, Gigaba and Nhleko. In the coming weeks and months the IMC will work with all the affected parties so as to seek a lasting solution to the issues raised by communities and foreign nationals. MORE >
Our African bonds defy borders
28 April 2015 – The South Africa where foreigners fear for their lives is not the South Africa envisioned by Nelson Mandela and the Freedom Charter, writes Thebe Ikalafeng. MORE >
Media statement: South African government responds to the decision by the Nigerian government
26 April 2015 – The South African Government takes note that the outgoing Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has recalled its Acting High Commissioner to South Africa. A government resorts to such an extraordinary diplomatic step to express outrage at actions or behaviour of another government. MORE >
Booklet: Stop attacks on foreign nationals
24 April 2015 – The South African government appeals for peace and tolerance following the recent violence against foreign nationals. In addition to the human cost, the attacks damage the country’s reputation and development, and ignore migrants’ contribution to our society, as a new booklet explains. Read and download the booklet here. MORE >
Watch: We Are the World Africa sings out against xenophobia
23 April 2015 – Organisers of the MTN Radio Awards have called on radio stations across the continent to stand in solidarity against the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa by broadcasting the new Africa Against Ebola and Xenophobia rendition of “We Are the World”. MORE >
Zuma meets stakeholders to discuss migration and attacks on foreign nationals
23 April 2015 – On Tuesday 22 April South African President Jacob Zuma met representatives from different sectors of society to discuss the country’s migration policy and explore ways to promote orderly migration and good relations between South Africans and other nationals. MORE >
Buti Manamela addresses National Union of Mineworkers Youth Council
23 April 2015 – “These images of violence and criminality directed at foreign nationals have been splattered over the front pages of our newspapers and our television screens. They have tugged at our hearts and sometimes brought tears to our eyes.” MORE >
Social support to continue as foreign nationals are reintegrated into communities
23 April 2015 – Foreign nationals who have been accommodated at a temporary settlement next to the Primrose Police Station in Germiston, East Rand, after they fled fearing attacks, will continue receiving social support services from social workers as they are reintegrated into their communities in Makawusi and Marathon informal settlements. MORE >
High-level ministerial committee to tackle migration issues
22 April 2015 – On Tuesday 21 April South African President Jacob Zuma convened the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, instructing members on what they need to do to promote orderly and efficient migration as well as peaceful coexistence between citizens and non-South Africans. MORE >
Watch: South Africans must support the government in fighting xenophobia – Sexwale
South Africa to host anti-xenophobia football friendlies
21 April 2015 – The South African Football Association and the Premier Soccer League are organising two international friendly matches against neighbouring countries to create unity in the wake of attacks on foreign nationals. MORE >
Watch: AU chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma pleads for calm
Pandor takes a stand against xenophobia
21 April 2015 – Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor has expressed her dismay at the recent xenophobic attacks and said that some of South Africa’s scientific achievements may not have been possible without eminent African scientists working in our universities and science councils. MORE >
Attacks on foreign nationals
20 April 2015 – The South African government condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent outbreak of violent attacks in parts of the country against foreign nationals, particularly fellow Africans from other African countries. This the government’s response so far. MORE >
President Zuma to build partnerships for peaceful migration
20 April 2015 – President Jacob Zuma is to hold consultative meetings with stakeholders to discuss South Africa’s migration policy and how different sectors of society can work with the government to promote orderly migration and good relations between citizens and foreign nationals. MORE >
Watch: Newsroom discusses business and xenophobia
South Africa acts against xenophobia
20 April 2015 – The South African government is taking steps to bring the latest outbreak of attacks against foreign nationals in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng under control. President Jacob Zuma cancelled a trip to Indonesia and visited refugee camps in Durban on Saturday. MORE >
Maponya: We must collectively say no to xenophobia
20 April 2015 – Brand South Africa’s chairperson, Chichi Maponya, says our African neighbours helped us during apartheid and says it is time for South Africa to play her part for the continent. MORE >
Department of Energy condemns attacks on foreign nationals
20 April 2015 – The Minister of Energy Tina Joemat-Pettersson and her deputy, Thembisile Majola, join President Jacob Zuma in strongly condemning the current attacks on non-South Africans in parts of our country. MORE >
Sport is fighting against xenophobia
20 April 2015 – Minister of Sport and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula, has lauded the sports bodies taking a stance against the xenophobic attacks and says that sport, yet again, is playing a role in uniting people in our country. MORE >
Displaced foreigners successfully reintegrated into KwaZulu-Natal communities
18 April 2015 – The KwaZulu-Natal government and eThekwini Metro are satisfied that great progress is being made in reintegrating displaced foreign nationals in a number of areas affected in greater Durban and greater Pietermaritzburg. MORE >
Statement from Brand South Africa on the current developments in South Africa
17 April 2015 – Brand South Africa joins the rest of the country in condemning the acts of violence that have been levelled against some foreign national residing in some of the nine provinces of South Africa. MORE >
Thousands march for peace in Durban
17 April 2015 – South Africans took to Durban’s streets on Thursday to call for calm and an end to the attacks on foreign nationals, which have claimed five lives and displaced hundreds of others in KwaZulu-Natal over the past two weeks. #WeAreAfrica #StopXenophobia MORE >
Watch: President Zuma condemns the spate of xenophobic attacks
Zuma: Xenophobic attacks defy South African values
16 April 2015 – President Jacob Zuma expressed his condemnation of the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in KwaZulu-Natal when he addressed the National Assembly on Thursday, 16 April. MORE >
Zuma condemns xenophobic attacks
15 April 2015 – President Jacob Zuma condemned the attacks on foreign nationals in KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg in an interview with the SABC, South Africa’s public broadcaster, on Wednesday night. MORE >
Watch: Foreign nationals anticipate more attacks
African Union statement on xenophobic attacks in South Africa
15 April 2015 – Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the chairperson of the African Union Commission, has described the attacks of foreign nationals in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal as “unacceptable,” calling for their immediate halt while again expressing her deep concern about the violence. MORE >
