Attacks on foreign nationals ‘pure criminality’, says Sisulu
International Relations Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has described the attacks of foreign nationals in KwaZulu-Natal as ‘pure criminality’.
Sisulu briefed the media in Pretoria on Monday afternoon, after she held a meeting with Heads of Diplomatic Missions representing various African countries in South Africa.
At least 300 Malawians have been displaced in Durban, after foreign-owned shops were looted and robbed during violence which broke out last week.
According to Sisulu, the violence in Durban was sparked by the killing of two South Africans.
She said one South African was shot and killed when they tried to force themselves into a foreign-owned shop, while another was killed at a local mall.
“We repeat what the president has said: What happened over the weekend with the information that is available to us was pure criminality. However, today we went beyond the matter of criminality but dealt with the matter that some ambassadors thought was xenophobic.”
The events in Durban has caused tension and panic amongst the members of the local Malawian community.
According to the department, some Malawian nationals have requested to go back home.
“A lot of them have now decided that they want to go home. So we’re in the process of making sure they get home peacefully. However, the minister this morning with the Malawi ambassador to South Africa has pleaded to say they are welcome to stay here and we don’t want to see them leave,” said deputy minister Luwellyn Landers.