Xenophobic attacks have resurfaced in Diepsloot, Gauteng Province and local residents are once again targeting foreign nationals and accusing them of engaging in criminal activities within the area. Not only have these residents been targeting foreign nationals, but they have also been destroying their shacks and properties.
According to a report from NewzRoom Afrika, the residents have taken matters into their own hands due to a perceived failure on the part of the police to address the situation adequately. They have also accused the police of accepting bribes from what they consider to be “illegal” foreign nationals. This frustration and sense of abandonment have led the residents to resort to vigilantism.
Tragically, this same xenophobic sentiment escalated to violence last year in April when a Zimbabwean man named Elvis Nyathi was brutally assaulted and burned to death by a group of Diepsloot residents. Following the incident, seven individuals were arrested in connection with the murder. However, the case remains unresolved as it awaits its turn in the court system. Illegal immigration in South Africa is a sensitive matter that affects both South Africans and foreigners in the country.
The resurgence of xenophobic attacks and the destruction of foreign nationals’ properties in Diepsloot reflects the deep-seated tensions and frustrations within the community. When a group of jobless and uneducated people sit down together over a sensitive matter, nothing go comes out of their discussion. South Africans are already frustrated by the failure of the ANC government, and illegal immigrants are only making the matter worse.
Mzansi, what are your thoughts concerning this incident? Do you think the SAPS should raid the area and arrest the residents involved for destruction of properties and violent intimidation? Tell us what you think about this and don’t forget to like, comment and share this article let’s get more reactions on this topic. Follow NewsVb for more updates.