Commencing last week Tuesday, disturbing reports poured in on planned discriminatory attacks. I personally received a Whatsapp message to this effect(posted below) and sad to say, the warnings preceded the actual attacks which have culminated in the barbaric deaths of 6 innocent people. Their crime: "Not Being South African." What is the world coming to if people start killing each other only on the basis of nationality. I cant imagine a single country in the world that has only its own citizens as residents.
"Pliz be warned! Wednesday 8 April 2015 has been set as the day to attack foreigners in Durban and sorrounding areas, therefore, avoid speaking on fone in taxis buses trains and public spaces. Remember its for your own safety be safe. The xenophobic attack is being orchastrated by the Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini. He has been campaigning for deportation of all foreigners in South Africa as he said they enjoying and exploiting the wealt that is supposed to be for South Africans ONLY
WARNING: Massive xenophobic attack secretly planned for this coming wednesday 08/04/2015 by different south african communities around Cape Town. Avoid using public transport especially train, taxi etc.. Stay away from isolated areas, dont walk around townships. Please share this with family and friends leaving in South Africa specially in Cape Town"
As you read this, from the comfort of your office, couch or even enjoying a sip of your non-fat latte, ponder this for a second. You decide to go on vacation with your wife and kids; destination South Africa. As you are walking the historic land-marked streets of Johannesburg taking pictures, a mob approaches you and speaks to you in any one of their local dialects (isiZulu, siPedi, isiXhosa, tshiVenda, siSwati etc) to which you mumble your ignorant reply. Before you realize it, thejeering mob is half dragging, half frog-marching you and they pour petrol (gasoline) all over you and strike a match. In those few seconds before you literally burn alive, what goes through your mind?I got to take a look at some of the horrendous videos and images circulating on these events and earnestly, my heart bleeds for those who have been victims. I have spent a small portion of my life as a foreigner in Johannesburg and my family resides there LEGALLY and so i can relate to the inhumanity we are witnessing in South Africa. The worst part is these hooligans actually justify their sordid actions. Here is an excerpt i got, allegedly penned by these inhumane creatures:
"Dear Neighbour from Africa & Other Parts of the World... We have travelled the world and have not found one country that allows the floods of humans across its borders as South Africa is experiencing. Even in wartorn part like Syria, Ukraine, Yemen and Somali. We were 7 million people in Johannesburg City in 2011; today we have an estimated 13 million. Of course our infrastructure and services must collapse. If you were quite prepared to disrespect the first Law of the sovereignty of our country why should you respect the rest of our laws? We have just come out of an oppressive bloody Apartheid system while you North of the Limpopo had been enjoying freedom since 1960, 1975 and 1981 respectively. We remember those proud milestones. But we are all still developing countries and our development must be impeded with so many strangers and illegals in our midst. In Johannesburg alone you have taken over entire suburbs: Yeoville, Berea, Bez Valley, Turfontein amongst many. You have even moved into rural parts of our country that have 80% unemployment; and there are no visible signs that you have jobs either. But there are signs of drug-dealing, prostitution and other criminal acts that you conduct- sometimes in cahoots with desperate locals. Your presence at this moment in our history is most destructive and destabilising to our country and our citizens. Yes, we want to be proudly part of the geographic construct called Africa but we are as different from one another as Kenyans are from Nigerians, Ivorians from Chadians etc. We recently received a story from the archives of teachers at a school in Cape Town. During the World Cup a group of primary school kids from different African countries north of the Limpopo were having a bloody fight in a suburb in Cape Town, South Africa/Azania, over a soccer match and one was stabbed to death and some others hospitalised. Those were kids between 9 and 11 years. They disliked one another's countries and at the same time felt that they did not really belong in SA. We are pleading with you to return to your home countries- as our King Goodwill and many other great leaders have asked. Go and build up those countries so that we can all live in economic, social and political prosperity and peace -as neighbours. The genocide in this corner of Africa will be far worse than what happened in Rwanda in 1994. Then the entire continent will be condemned to ashes. Is that what you want? Our people built this country with their blood and tears, but built it we did. For you to come here and take jobs at cheaper rates, use and abuse our scarce resources (schools, hospitals, shelters, clinics, parks, streets- even our churches and shacks and open spaces to live in while shops are literally running out of food) and further add to already high crime rates, IS WRONG and IMMORAL. South Africans not fully employed or who were found guilty of crimes, were recently repatriated from Nigeria and rightly so. Our people are preparing for war against all foreigners (from Bulgaria to Pakistan and Bangladesh to Africa north of the Limpopo) and we are all very scared. Please GO HOME and BUILD Africa. Millions will die if you don't. This we can guarantee. Good luck with your return Patriotic Movement Pan Local Forum Unemployed Workers Forum Anti-Crime Movement And others."
While i was trying to comprehend the state of the illogical, perverse mind that birthed this excerpt, my phone beckoned me summarily with its incessant vibration, indicating a new Whatsapp message. I opened it, and this is what emanated from my screeen:
"Let's be in prayers tomorrow, the devil will not succeed with his mission and assignment. It seems that there are attacks planned for Johannesburg on Wednesdays: CBD, Hillbrow, Berea and Yeoville. Wednesday Zulu people are coming to town starting from market their mission is to kill every foreigner on the road please pass this to all your contacts in case they come people should be on alert! Let's stand on Isaiah 54v17 and Psalm 91"
I literally froze... Still dont understand how i thawed even. First thought, "Oh God, Oh God, Oh God!" Both my parents, along with my younger brother and sister reside smack dab in the middle of Johannesburg CBD!! My mind races to the highly sensitive images and videos (definitely not for the faint hearted) that were sent to me.
 | I am part of a group of Zimbabwean citizens that are appalled at these events and as such, shall be demonstrating in protest on Thursday and Friday, 16th & 17th respectively. We cannot stand back and watch as South African authorities turn a sanctimonious blind eye to this and the international community keeps silent. I urge all available individuals to be a part of this peaceful protest. For those unable to take part, at least use the hashtag on social media: #saynotoxenophobia |
| Please look at the face of the SAPS officer on the right. |
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