Malawians calls upon SA to punish the Zulu king

Nhlalo Ndaba, Shaun Smillie and Ulemu Teputepu | 22 April, 2015 00:17

The activists in Lilongwe said that unless action was taken against the two within 48 hours, it would force South African businesses in their country to close down. File photo
Image by: THULI DLAMINI/©Sunday Times

Malawian activists have demanded that action be taken against King Zwelithini and Jacob Zuma's son for making remarks that were viewed as inciting xenophobic violence.

The activists in Lilongwe said unless action was taken against the two within 48 hours, they would force South African businesses in their country to close down. About 200 marchers presented a petition to South African High Commissioner Cassandra Mbuyane-Mokone yesterday.

Malawian police have also been out in force on the streets of the capital in case of reprisal attacks against South African businesses.

• News24 reported that South Africa had closed its embassy in Lagos, Nigeria, after anti-xenophobia protests there.
• In Botswana, routine patient referrals to South Africa have reportedly been suspended.
• Zimbabweans travelling by Intercape bus were robbed by four gunmen at the Carousel Tollgate near Hammanskraal. Intercape South Africa, which recently merged with a Zimbabwean bus company on the Zimbabwe route, confirmed the incident. It said the robbery occurred "in the line of sight of the police and toll gate staff".

Army deployed to stop Xenophobic attacks

 South Africa  minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said on Tuesday the  South Africa defence force  will be deployed in Alexandra and parts of KZN to help police curb attacks on foreign nationals.

Speaking at a media briefing, she said the brutal killing of  a Mozambique national Emmanuel Sithole  and attacks of two Zimbabweans was an indication that the state had to step in and claim authority. 

She said the police had requested assistance of the military after a Zimbabwean couple and other foreigners was attacked on Monday night.

“We are not coming to take over the work of the police, but we are going in to support the police," said Mapisa-Nqakula.

Mapisa- Nqakula said she was hurt when she saw the pictures of Sithole in the newspaper, adding that the pictures might have been necessary for the country to see the extent of the ongoing violence that is soiling the country’s image.

“There are criminals who are taking advantage of challenges raised by South Africans.

Mapisa-Nqakula was at pains to say that the decision was not taken lightly - saying the democratic government had decided not to deploy the army at every provocation.

“The army will be deployed because there is a crisis,” she said.

Mapisa-Nqakula was joined by State Security Minister David Mahlobo and Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba.

"Why should we share our land": imbizo attendees sing

Image by: eNCA Live via YouTube

"We are going to Point‚" men from Durban's Dalton hostel sang at Moses Mabhida Stadium where under-fire Zulu King Goodwill was expected to publicly address his controversial comments - that foreigners must leave the country.

Carrying knobkerries‚ shields and other traditional weapons‚ the men made reference to Durban's Point Road where foreigners last week took up arms to defend themselves against threats of xenophobic violence.

Bussed in from different parts of the province‚ the crowd also sang songs questioning why they should share "our land".

"This is our nation‚" they sang.

About 4,000 people had arrived at the stadium to hear Zwelithini speak.

Speaking at a moral regeneration event in Pongola about a month ago‚ Zwelithini said that foreigners should pack their bags and leave.

The comments are being probed by the Human Rights Commission‚ which is investigating whether or not they constitute hate speech.

Since his comments‚ xenophobic attacks in and around Durban have claimed six lives and displaced thousands of foreigners.

Zwelithini was not likely to apologise for the comments‚ but was is expected to condemn the attacks and call for calm.

Protest as Malawian man appears on murder charge

A group of 400 residents picketed outside the Cala magistrate's court morning where Rendy Ussen of Malawi stands accused of killing his girlfriend.

The deceased has been identified as 23-year-old Zandile Dudumashe.

The discovery of her body last week sparked violence in Cala‚ resulting in four foreign-owned shops being vandalised.

Police intervened to restore peace to the community.

Provincial police spokesman Brigadier Marinda Mills last week said foreign nationals were taken to the police station and other locations to ensure their safety‚ while police and community leaders addressed and requested the public not to take the law into their own hands.

Outside court on Monday morning‚ residents stood with placards calling for bail to be denied.

The case was postponed to April 28 for an interpreter

Three men to appear in court over Sithole’s murder

Mozambique national Emmanuel Sithole is attacked by men in Alexandra township in Johannesburg. He later died from his wounds.
Image by: JAMES OATWAY/Sunday Times.

The three men arrested in connection with the killing of Mozambican Emmanuel Sithole are expected to appear in court on Tuesday‚ as the hunt for the fourth suspect continues.

murder on Saturday in Alexandra was captured by Sunday Times photographer James Oatway‚ and the images of the brutal death prompted police to offer a reward of up to R100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprits.

The arrests overnight were‚ reportedly‚ made with the help of the community.

Yet‚ following the attack‚ Oatway received grudging support when he attempted to remove Sithole from the scene and get him to medical help.

"Help me get him into the car. Help me‚ please‚" said photographer James Oatway‚ looking around at men gathered around him. One stepped forward‚ reluctantly.

Sithole was taken to the nearby Alexandra Day Clinic‚ where nurses did what they could‚ but as there was no doctor – he was apparently absent from the facility as he feared being attacked - he was eventually taken to the Edenvale Hospital.

Shortly after 9am‚ Sithole was pronounced dead.

SOURCE... TIMESLIVE

South Africa's Zulu king condemns "vile" anti-immigrant attacks

DURBAN, South Africa, April 20 (Reuters) - South Africa's influential Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini on Monday described anti-immigrant attacks that have killed at least seven people this month as "vile" and "wrong".

Zwelithini has been accused of fuelling anti-immigrant unrest after local media quoted him saying foreigners should leave South Africa. He said his comments were taken out of context and condemned violence against immigrants. (Reporting by Peroshni Govender; Writing by Joe Brock; Editing by James Macharia

South Sudanese abroad petition UN chief over conflict

 More than 200 South Sudanese in different parts of the United States have petitioned the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, urging the world body to find a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the country’s conflict.

People gather at a makeshift camp for displaced people at a UN compound in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, on 22 December 2013 amid fears for further violence (Photo: AFP/Tony Karumba)

The group, in a petition extended toSudan Tribune, backed calls for imposition of targeted sanctions and an arms embargo on any party found to be obstructing or and frustrating the young nation’s peace process, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2206 (2015).

“We express deep concern about the speech President Kiir delivered at a public rally in Juba on March 18, 2015 in which the President seemed to renege on most of the issues both sides had agreed upon in the recent inconclusive peace talks in Addis Ababa”, partly reads the 26 March request.

The petitioners, in their appeal, also called for immediate release of the findings of the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudanese crisis, arguing that the continued withholding of the report encourages impunity, emboldens the perpetrators of the heinous crimes committed in the capital, Juba and other parts of the country.

This, they argued, does not serve the cause of justice for the victims of these crimes.
The group of activists also called for immediate withdrawal of the Uganda People Defense Forces (UPDF) from South Sudan’s territory.

“Uganda’s involvement in the war in support of the government of South Sudan undermines its role in mediating peace between the parties to the conflict, complicates the peace process, and may be contributing to the failure to achieve peace in South Sudan”, adds the petition.

The group further advocated for the active involvement of the Troika countries and other international stakeholders in the peace process alongside the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member countries, insisting that the active participation of the Troika will give the process the impetus needed to end the conflict.

They also called for comprehensive and sustainable peace that tackles fundamental issues of governance and all conditions that contributed to emergence of the conflict.

“We specifically call for the adoption of a democratic federal system of government as one of the solutions to the ending the war in South Sudan”, further stressed the petition.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced since conflict broke out in the young nation in December 2013. Aid agencies estimate that over three million of the population in the world’s youngest nation could face severe starvation.