South Africa’s xenophobic attacks:We are very sorry, says Zuma

SOUTH Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) President Jacob Zuma yesterday apologised on behalf of his country for violent attacks on foreign nationals earlier this year. Mr Zuma, who was in the country for a three-day tour, gave the apologies during a meeting with the Chama cha Mapinduzi’s (CCM) Elders Council in Dar es Salaam. In May a series of riots occurred in South Africa leaving about 70 people dead, hundreds injured and some 25,000 displaced. The attacks targeted foreign nationals and were apparently motivated by xenophobia, although 21 of those killed were South African citizens. About 100 Tanzanians, who were in South Africa in May, were helped to return home in the wake of the xenophobic attacks. Mr Zuma said: “We are sorry that such ugly incident occurred. We have taken all measures to ensure that kind of incidents will never happen again.” He said ANC and the South African government embarked on mass education to make people understand the need for Africans to co-operate. “We want our people to understand that before liberation from apartheid South Africans were living in foreign countries peacefully,” he said. Mr Zuma said ANC was deeply concerned and regrets on the events in May. He said the party tried to find out what drove South Africans into such grisly, despicable and nefarious actions. He said that in some areas they found out that foreigners, especially rich ones were attacked by gangs with motives of stealing property. “It was crime and something that go beyond xenophobia,” he said. Earlier, Mr Zuma commended CCM for establishing the elder’s council. He said that was a good lesson to ANC. He said a few years ago ANC had a similar plan but failed to implement it. “I wish we could have a council of elders in Africa who could help in resolving conflicts on the continent. I believe we could all listen to them,” he said. Meanwhile, Mr Zuma yesterday paid a visit to Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy (MNMA) in Kigamboni, saying the institution had posed a big challenge to ANC. He said that South Africa had great leaders who deserved to be immortalised through institutions like MNMA. He described Mwalimu Julius Nyerere as the great leader who championed the cause of total liberation of the African continent. He said Mwalimu Nyerere played a big role in shaping the South African constitution. “Our country owes him (Nyerere) a lot,” he said. The MNMA Principal, Dr John Magoti, appealed to Mr Zuma to help the institution to get experts from South Africa. Mr Zuma and his delegation were scheduled to leave for home yesterday, but his host, the CCM Vice-Chairman (Mainland), Mr Pius Msekwa, said the tour had been extended on the request by President Jakaya Kikwete. Mr Zuma was expected to call on the president last night.