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Meeting report

Discussion
Mr P Dithebe (ANC) referred to rumours that in more than one of the incidents, the xenophobic attacks had been preceded by community meetings, and he asked if there was any information on the nature of the meetings, and those who had convened them. He also asked for information on reports that people were being transported from one area to another to attack communities.

Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula responded that indeed there had been reports of meetings. However, there was not yet a complete picture of what had occurred prior to the violence in Alexandria. It had been alleged that there were meetings held in the hostels, at which issues of crime were discussed, with accusations that foreigners were responsible for the crime. However other allegations suggested that meeting had been held around service delivery and access of foreigners to services. There was a range of issues, allegations and counter-allegations still to be dealt with.
 
Ms H Weber (DA) asked whether there were plans to deal with migrants in a different way and if there would be better controls introduced to ensure that more people entered the country legally, or that they were documented as they entered, to give an idea of how many were coming into South Africa.

The Minister stated that, with all the current sensitivities, the issues of xenophobia must be considered separately from the issue of migrants. South Africa's economy had always been dependent on migrant labour, and during the amnesty referred to earlier about 51 000 mine workers, who had formed the backbone of the economy, had benefited. She believed that whilst the policy of deportation could be used as part of the law enforcement, it had its own challenges, including the question of whether it addressed migration.

Mr M Sikakane (ANC) was pleased to note the statement that there would not be automatic deportations, ands also the Minister’s thorough investigation into all possible causes. In the 1940s, attacks on Asiatic groups had been attributed to economic concerns. Poverty and unemployment were, in his opinion, not the root cause, but that jealousy of other people’s success could build hatred.

Ms F Mathibela (ANC) agreed that many of the media reports had shown young people, including those of school age, involved in the violence and she was interested to hear the Minister’s comments on this age group. She asked what would happen to the 60 000 closed files.

Mr W Skosana (ANC) said that there had been reports that some countries were prepared to assist their nationals in claiming compensation from South Africa in respect of their losses, and asked how this would be done.

The Minister said that she had heard such rumours, but was not sure that countries would follow that route, given their good relationship with this government and the fact that the South African government had not anticipated the situation and had no control over it.

Mr C Louw (DA) agreed with the Minister that there was a need for a high level meeting to discuss xenophobia. He asked about the allegations of a third force behind the attacks, enquiring where this idea had emanated, and if there was any proof of it at this stage.

The Minister said that there was presently too little information for her to give a definitive answer. The incidents over the past few weeks had raised questions as to the involvement of criminal elements, sporadic incidents, and counter-revolutionary forces. All possibilities should be raised and investigated in a process of elimination. Civic education at schools should be instilling a spirit of patriotism, and a sense of responsibility for defending the country and democracy. It could not be ruled out that this could have been a well-orchestrated action that undermined what had been achieved so far by riding on the needs and vulnerabilities of people, and the challenges of communities. However, it was too soon to give the answer.

Mr Louw asked if more staff were being deployed to assist in processing the documents of those who had been displaced, whether they could be appointed quickly, and whether the DHA had the capacity, given its other challenges, to deal with this matter.

The Minister said that a directive had already been issued to the Director General to access more staff, but it was up to him to source them and to arrange the details.
 
Mr Louw asked if there had been contact with the South African Police Services, as on CNN he had seen police officers standing around but apparently not attempting to stop the attacks.

The Minister said that there was regular interaction as SAPS was part of the Task team, with daily interaction, questioning and accountability. Any misconduct of individual officers would be investigated and dealt with.

The Chairperson called again upon Members to raise the challenges and encourage communities in their constituencies to deal positively with the issues. A report would be issued soon from Parliament and would be addressed during the July Summit.

The meeting was adjourned.