South African Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba said yesterday that government’s efforts to stop the xenophobic violence were yielding desired results.
The minister said some unscrupulous elements have been using the social media to instill fear in different parts of the country by sending out fictitious SMS and WhatsApp messages with fictitious and photoshopped images, warning people of imminent attacks.
He blamed the messages on those he described as elements “bent on taking advantage of the situation create panick among the people.
Gigaba spoke on government’s efforts to prevent the attacks on foreign nationals in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng that have left at least six people dead.
“At this point, we are satisfied that the security measures that are currently in place are sufficient to bring the situation under control,” Gigaba said in Pretoria.
He said President Jacob Zuma led efforts to halt the attacks by calling off a trip to Indonesia to attend to the ongoing attacks.
President Zuma was due to leave for Indonesia on Saturday evening to attend the Africa-Asia summit but his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the summit on his behalf.
The minister said: “President Zuma appointed the ministers of State Security, Home Affairs and Police to spearhead the government’s response to the violence.
“The team was further strengthened by the president when he tasked the whole justice crime prevention and security cluster as well as the ministers of International Affairs and Cooperation, Small Business Development, Trade and Industry and Social Development departments to demonstrate the serious nature of which our government views the violence against foreign nationals.”
Gigaba said Zuma visited displaced foreign nationals in Chatsworth on Saturday to assure them of the government’s support.
The minister said: “The president also engaged with the Umlazi community to spread to the message of peace and tolerance,” Gidaba said.
“He (Zuma) will in the next week, lead a stakeholders’ outreach programme around the country to engage communities to start a conversation within our society.”
Warning perpetrators of xenophobic violence, Gidaba said anybody found wanting will face the full might of the law.
“We want to issue a stern warning to those who lend themselves to acts of public violence. We will find you and you will be dealt with to the full might of the law,” Gigaba said in Pretoria.
According to him, the 307 people so far arrested for related acts since the attacks broke out last week will face prosecution. Special courts have also been set up to deal with perpetrators speedily.
Gigaba informed that there were ‘elements’ that were taking advantage of the violence to plunge the country into anarchy.
“Over the past few days we have noticed a new phenomenon where people make use of social media to instill fear in different parts of the country,” Gigaba said.
“They have been sending out fictitious SMS and WhatsApp messages with fictitious and photoshopped images warning people of imminent attacks.”
He said these messages appeared to be orchestrated by elements “bent on taking advantage of unease in the communities and instill fear among the people”.
“The misinformation that has been taking place on social media should be condemned by all peace-loving South Africans as well as foreign nationals living in our country,” Gigaba said.
Gigaba assured the international community that South Africa was doing everything possible to stem the violence.
He condemned false rumours spread over social media platforms warning of attacks on foreign nationals.
Gidaba said: “There will be no bus or train coming to attack South Africans or foreign nationals anywhere. We are determined that if there is any such information that is accurate we will stop those buses and act.
“As a government, we remain alert and any credible information that suggests an imminent threat against any community, South Africans will be officially advised by relevant authorities.
“We will not communicate it through WhatsApp messages and anonymous texts.”
“To the countries that continue to invest in South Africa, we want to reassure them that South Africa is a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law.”
“Investors are welcome to do business. Everything is being done to restore peace and order. Government will enforce the laws of the country to act speedily [and] decisively on any criminal activity committed by or against a foreign national or a citizen of South Africa.”
Gigaba said the government held meetings with church leaders to spread a peace message.
His words: “We unequivocally condemn the maiming and killing of our brothers and sisters from other parts of the African continent.”
“No amount of frustration or anger can justify these attacks and looting of shops.”