South African president condemns xenophobia after fierce attack

South African president has rebuked the xenophobia that has been reported in his country.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the recent spate of violence against foreign nationals in Durban is a pure element of criminality.

Earlier this week violence broke out in an informal settlement north of Durban where over 200 foreign nationals were allegedly attacked. Some fled their homes.

Speaking to the SABC’s Ukhozi FM station in Durban on Saturday, the President condemns the attacks on other Africans.

“A few days ago we found out that it’s us South Africans who are attacking foreigners; that portrays us as a country that does not want to be part of other African countries. Because it shows the rest of the world that there’s xenophobia in South Africa and that’s not true.  There’s no Xenophobia in this country.

The President has also called for an end to public violence during protests. He says the burning of shops and factories is not the way to air frustrations and grievances.

Xenophobia has no place in our democracy and we must do everything to root it out. pic.twitter.com/LA3rW5VHaW

— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) March 29, 2019

“As South Africans we have never been Xenophobic and have never discriminated people from other countries. From the report I’ve heard from comrade Sihle Zikalala this was an act by criminals who decided to attack foreigners.”

There has been an uproar on social media where Citizen were afraid of what was happening in the streets.