[LISTEN] Not even police helped me, claims xenophobic attack victim
At least 300 Malawians have been displaced in Durban following last week’s renewed xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals living in the area.
On Monday, seven trucks were set alight near the Mooi River N3 Toll Plaza in Kwa-Zulu-Natal and foreign-owned shops were looted and robbed during the violence.
Truck driver Tineyi Takawira, who was caught up in the violence, spoke to Jacaranda FM News on Tuesday – detailing the events of the day.
Takawira says he was stopped by a group of men posing as police officers while driving on the N3 and asked to produce his driver’s license.
“I asked him why he needs the license if you are not the police, after that, I gave the license, I followed him.
"At the time I moved around to go to a friend of mine in another truck, I told the guy to give me my license and then another came I don't know where the person came from.”
Takawira says the men then attacked him with a knife, but he managed to escape and run towards a group of police officers who were standing a few meters away.
"The police never helped me with anything, they asked me: ‘Who stopped you?’ I told them that it was a group of men.
"I tried to sit down and asked one police officer to help me sit down but he failed and told me to sit alone.”
Takawire eventually phoned his wife and uncle to tell them to call an ambulance or to fetch him.
Meanwhile, the African Diaspora Forum says not enough is being done to ensure the safety of the foreign nationals affected by xenophobic violence.
The forum's Vusi Sibanda says many of the people are running away to nearby police stations.
"People ran away to police stations and some are feeling so unsafe that they decided to go back to Malawi then go back to those communities.
"We are a bit worried because we tend to feel like following what the ministry of international relations said yesterday (Monday) that there is a much greater desire to portray South Africa as a peaceful country in terms of migrants than to resolve the problem.
"I mean even the message that was sent by minister (Lindiwe) Sisulu it didn't guarantee safety, we don't think enough is being done to ensure that safety is being taken care of, as much as there are good initiatives but the practical aspect of it apart from what is being said by word of mouth doesn't give us confidence that these people are going to be safe in their communities.”
During a press briefing on Monday, International Relations Minister Lindiwe Sisulu described the attacks on foreign nationals in KZN as an act of “pure criminality”.