Mbeki says attacks a 'disgrace'

Mbeki says attacks a 'disgrace'

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SOUTH African President Thabo Mbeki made a rare national address to condemn anti-immigrant violence that has killed 50, but faced criticism Monday for doing too little, too late after two weeks of unrest.

Warning of a return to the violent past of the struggle against apartheid, Mbeki said Sunday that the unrest had tarnished the country's image and soiled the reputation of liberation heroes such as Nelson Mandela.

"Never since the birth of our democracy have we witnessed such callousness. We must view the events of the past two weeks as an absolute disgrace," he said during an address broadcast on national television and radio.

Mbeki faced a front-page demand from national newspaper the Sunday Times to step down on Sunday in an article that pointed out that he was still to visit the worst trouble-hit areas of the country.

"It was a very good speech but belated," said analyst Sipho Seepe of the South African Institute of Race relations on public radio SABC Monday.

"The challenge is not about condemnation its about taking steps immediately when there is mayhem in the country."

The focal points of anti-immigrant attacks in South Africa appeared to be calming Monday, with flare-ups in the slums of Johannesburg quickly contained by police.

Some 35,000 foreigners have been displaced around the country in the xenophobic purge which has also sent tens of thousands fleeing back to their home countries.

"It has been very, very quiet, apart from a few empty shacks set alight in Katlehong (east of Johannesburg)," said Govindsamy Mariemuthoo, police spokesman for Gauteng province which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria.

"We are busy patrolling and monitoring the situation," he told AFP.

Police and the army -- deployed in the streets for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994 -- appeared to have contained the violence that has displaced some 25,000 in Johannesburg and 10,000 in Cape Town.

Mbeki's speech on Sunday, came after government heavyweights descended on informal settlements around the country in an attempt to appease angry locals.

African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma, usually hugely popular, was heckled by a 4,000-strong crowd in Springs, east of Johannesburg, demanding that foreigners leave the country.

Locals have complained immigrants provide cheap labour and are responsible for crime.

"Fighting won't solve your problems but will instead exacerbate them, and they will therefore remain unsolved," Zuma told the crowd. "Peace should prevail and we must engage each other on whatever issues there might be."

While the government mobilised to contain the violence, nearly 20,000 Mozambicans fled back to their home country.

Deputy Foreign Minister Henrique Banze told AFP that the government had set up three reception centres around the capital Maputo and had hired 19 buses to transport the returnees to their homes.

Malawi was also helping to bring its citizens home.

"More than 850 Malawians have been affected by the current violence. All Malawians willing to return home will be evacuated," said Ben Mbewe, Foreign Affairs principal secretary. - AFP
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