Johannesburg is a city of global migrants, no room for xenophobia – Mayor

Mayor of the South African city of Johannesburg has waded into the current xenophobic attacks which has put the country in the spotlight for wrong reasons.

Mayor Herman Mashaba expressly condemned the attacks and protests that targeted foreign nationals stating that Johannesburg was a city that welcomes migrants from all over the world.

He said in a statement carried by the Times LIVE news portal that his administration was going to do all it takes to arrest the current situation and to prevent ‘‘any outburst of xenophobic violence in our city. There is no place for xenophobia in the City of Johannesburg.’‘

His statement read in part, ‘‘This is a city built by and made up of migrants from all over the world. We are the pride of our country and continent and we cannot allow for foreign nationals to be scapegoated for the failures of previous administrations to fulfil its promises.’‘

Instead of planned xenophobic marches, the national government should be accountable for its failure to create meaningful economic growth.

— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) February 22, 2017

We must be a government that listens to the concerns of our people and work tirelessly to ensure that they are addressed.

— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) February 22, 2017

Whiles emphasising that foreign national were not enemies, he said most foreigners had come to South Africa out of desperation due to political, economic and social instability in their countries. He called on the national government to play its role in regularizing the stay of asylum seekers and refugees.

‘‘This would protect those who wish to legitimately enter our country from criminal elements‚ including slum lords and drug traffickers‚ who abuse their desperation and are able to evade the law,’‘ he added.

He called on South Africans to work hand-in-hand with foreign brothers positing that it was the best way of observing the rule of law and of creating meaningful and sustainable economic growth for the rainbow nation whiles securing her borders.

The Nigerian government recently called on the African Union (AU) to intervene in attacks on nationals of other African countries in South Africa.

Whiles Nigeria’s top Foreign Affairs adviser at the Presidency thinks South Africa is no longer in control of the attacks, the government disputes the claim.

‘‘It was just sporadic criminal incidents, the residents were clear that they were unhappy about drugs and prostitution. You can deduce from that there are no nationalities targeted. South Africans are not xenophobic,” Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs department has said.