The South African wives of some of the hundreds of foreign shopkeepers forced to flee Grahamstown last week when xenophobic mobs looted shops, taped their mouths shut to highlight their plight yesterday.More than 20 women from the recently formed Voices of the Foreigners’ Wives group were joined by about 200 concerned Grahamstown residents outside City Hall.
Speakers called for more action by politicians and police to try and resolve ongoing tensions. They said little was being done to help the displaced foreigners.
Reading from a memorandum, Jacqueline Khokam, who is married to a Pakistani shopkeeper, called for police to provide better protection for women, young girls and men, including foreigners, to ensure their safety in local crime-ridden townships.
She called for more police patrols in affected areas, including the location outside town where the foreigners are still staying.
Demands included: an immediate stop to xenophobic attacks; an end to murder and rape of women; economic development that creates opportunities for all; better housing and services; and a kick-start fund for foreigners whose shops and homes were looted.
Attempts to hand the memorandum over to municipal officials amounted to nothing after no-one came out to accept it from the peaceful crowd that included Rhodes University students, lecturers, concerned residents, Unemployed Peoples’ Movement leader Ayanda Kota and clergy from across the religious spectrum.
More than 300 shops were looted and 500 people displaced during the three-day rampage after bizarre claims that a foreigner was prowling the area killing women for body parts.
The claims have been regularly denied by police.
Speaking on behalf of the Anglican Bishop of Grahamstown Ebenezer Ntlali, Reverend Andrew Hunter called for calm.
“How do you sleep at night when you know you have caused harm to your brothers or sisters? We call on the community to expose these people.”
The foreigners’ plight was also raised with provincial government yesterday by local DA MP Andrew Whitfield when he wrote to premier Phumulo Masualle requesting urgent relief intervention.
“Local nonprofit organisations are working around the clock to feed and care for the victims of the violence.
“However, their resources are finite and the need for government assistance is critical.”
Whitfield also tabled a notice of motion in parliament on Thursday that the xenophobia be discussed.
Attempts to get comment from Masualle’s spokeswoman Nomfanelo Kota were referred to the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) instead.
Cogta spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam said 400 people had been relocated to different places of safety with a blanket each from the Red Cross.
Wives’ plea for foreign victims
More than 20 women from the recently formed Voices of the Foreigners’ Wives group were joined by about 200 concerned Grahamstown residents outside City Hall.
Speakers called for more action by politicians and police to try and resolve ongoing tensions. They said little was being done to help the displaced foreigners.
Reading from a memorandum, Jacqueline Khokam, who is married to a Pakistani shopkeeper, called for police to provide better protection for women, young girls and men, including foreigners, to ensure their safety in local crime-ridden townships.
She called for more police patrols in affected areas, including the location outside town where the foreigners are still staying.
Demands included: an immediate stop to xenophobic attacks; an end to murder and rape of women; economic development that creates opportunities for all; better housing and services; and a kick-start fund for foreigners whose shops and homes were looted.
Attempts to hand the memorandum over to municipal officials amounted to nothing after no-one came out to accept it from the peaceful crowd that included Rhodes University students, lecturers, concerned residents, Unemployed Peoples’ Movement leader Ayanda Kota and clergy from across the religious spectrum.
More than 300 shops were looted and 500 people displaced during the three-day rampage after bizarre claims that a foreigner was prowling the area killing women for body parts.
The claims have been regularly denied by police.
Speaking on behalf of the Anglican Bishop of Grahamstown Ebenezer Ntlali, Reverend Andrew Hunter called for calm.
“How do you sleep at night when you know you have caused harm to your brothers or sisters? We call on the community to expose these people.”
The foreigners’ plight was also raised with provincial government yesterday by local DA MP Andrew Whitfield when he wrote to premier Phumulo Masualle requesting urgent relief intervention.
“Local nonprofit organisations are working around the clock to feed and care for the victims of the violence.
“However, their resources are finite and the need for government assistance is critical.”
Whitfield also tabled a notice of motion in parliament on Thursday that the xenophobia be discussed.
Attempts to get comment from Masualle’s spokeswoman Nomfanelo Kota were referred to the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) instead.
Cogta spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam said 400 people had been relocated to different places of safety with a blanket each from the Red Cross.
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