By Peter Luhanga (The Mercury) Somali Association of South Africa (Sasa) national director Ahmed Dawlo said 12 Somalis had been killed in South Africa since the beginning of the year, and 24 since the xenophobic attacks in May 2008.

Somali shopkeepers were particularly at risk, he said, citing the recent killings of two who were set alight in Darling.

“We believe the killings were directly fuelled by xenophobia. In many instances Somali shopkeepers were shot and nothing was stolen from them.”
Researcher Clare Kelly, an expert in diversity and transformation at UCT’s department of Intercultural and Diversity Studies, said it was “quite irresponsible” to say threats directed towards foreign nationals were not xenophobic in nature.

Kelly said xenophobia could not be ruled out as “one of the reasons” Somalis were attacked. Socio-economic factors also played a big role.

But the environment, she said, remained hostile to African immigrants.

SA Human Rights Commission commissioner Zonke Majodina said the police insistence that attacks on foreign nationals were not xenophobic was “a defensive mechanism” as they did not want to heighten tensions.

The attacks, she said, were “both xenophobic and (perpetrated by) criminal elements”. She said it was “imperative” for leadership to condemn “the atrocities perpetrated” against foreign nationals, rather than coming up with justifications.

She added that poverty, and a lack of service delivery and resources, fuelled xenophobic sentiments.

Western Cape police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk said incidents related to Somali shopowners were not xenophobic, but crime and robbery specific. – West Cape News

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