Police tell Committee that criminal elements fuelled violent attacks against foreign nationals
The Ad Hoc Joint Committee on Probing Violence against Foreign Nationals was informed by the members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) today that criminal elements fueled the violent attacks against foreign nationals in Alexandra.
The Committee today met with the Alexandra Police Cluster and traditional leaders (Izinduna) from Kwa Madala Hostel where the attacks and looting started in April this year. The Izinduna told the Committee that crime, unemployment and poverty is the cause of the attacks that took place in Alexandra in April.
The Izinduna also echoed the point that was mentioned by the Izinduna from Jeppe and the communities of Kagiso and Snake Park yesterday that xenophobia is not the cause of the violence against foreign nationals because the youth that attacked foreign nationals are also attacking South African citizens and are involved in criminal activities in the community.
The Committee was also briefed by youth leaders of Alexandra who raised the issue of drugs that are sold to the youth which makes them vulnerable to committing crime.
The Committee was also informed that there is a sport facility in Alexandra that is fenced with a concrete wall, that was built to develop the youth of Alexandra through sports but which is now used for criminal activities including the distribution of drugs to the youth. This issue is some of the socio-economic issues that need to be dealt with in order to curb the spread of violence and crime.
The Committee also met the Community Police Forum (CPF) and was informed by its chairperson, Mr Bulldog Rathokolo that another cause of the violence in the area is the occupation of Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses by foreign nationals who are not the legal beneficiaries of RDP houses, when South Africans are still waiting for allocation of houses.
The Committee has noted all the concerns raised by the police, Izinduna, the CPF and youth leaders of Alexandra and they will assist when the Committee compiles findings and recommendations.
The Committee has not met with the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and SANCO in Gauteng to understand how they relate to the issues raised by the different small business owners, foreign nationals, communities, non-governmental organisations and religious leaders the Committee met regarding the violence against foreign nationals.
The Committee has however indicated that it will have engagements in the future with the above mentioned organisations.
The Committee also wants to look further into the issue of integration of foreigners in communities to understand areas which might create conflict.
For media enquiries and interviews with the Chairpersons, please contact:
Faith Kwaza
Tel: 021 403 8062
Cell: 081 377 0686
E-mail: fkwaza@parliament.gov.za
