ANC: This is not xenophobia but criminality
The African National Congress (ANC) has moved to quell fears that xenophobia is rearing its ugly head again following the looting of several shops and attacks on foreign nationals in Johannesburg and Tshwane.
More than 90 suspects have been arrested after chaos erupted across Gauteng since Sunday.
“What is problematic – there are clear opportunist who have hijacked a pure community concern against drug peddlers but now they have turned it into a criminal act,” said ANC spokesperson Dakota Legoete during a press conference at the party’s Luthuli House headquarters in Johannesburg on Monday.
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Shops belonging to foreign nationals in Turfonetin, Rossettenville, Tembisa, Malvern and Jeppestown were looted, while more than 50 vehicles set on fire.
A murder case is also under investigation after a Hillbrow resident was shot dead.
He believes the unrest and criminal activity are not fuelled by the nationality of its victims.
“We do not want to apportion this thing to our brother and sister of foreign nationality.”
Legoete believes police must act more decisive against the criminals.
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“We don’t take it much more they way it has been taken, but we taken more as a criminal act that needs to be discourage.”