TWO opposition parties in the Eastern Cape have joined hands to denounce the government over the xenophobia crisis.
United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa and provincial Democratic Alliance boss Athol Trollip sat side by side at a meeting in Mthatha, where they slammed the government on a number of issues.
But their main focus was on the xenophobic attacks that have swept the country.
Holomisa said corruption in the Department of Housing was the root cause of the recent brutality on South Africa’s streets.
“Many people have been queuing ... since 1994 for houses ... (and) the fact that those who arrive here illegally ... immediately get houses, ahead of the people who have been queuing for a long time, has actually triggered the violence,” Holomisa said.
He said the violence had been at its worst in places such as Alexandra, where the need for housing was greatest.
Trollip agreed with Holomisa’s statements and added that the Department of Home Affairs was equally to blame.
“They are responsible for the influx of people that are here illegally and that creates the kind of tension that we have seen,” Trollip said.
He said what angered South Africans was “the fact that illegal immigrants were given preference over locals”.
Both men said they were relieved that President Thabo Mbeki had deployed the army to assist the police in bringing the attacks to a halt.
After the meeting the two leaders drove off in the same vehicle.
Yesterday, Holomisa called on the government to appoint a commission of inquiry to probe the violence. He said a transparent probe would determine whether or not the attacks were “deliberate and orchestrated”.
“The key here would be to remove any kind of suspicion that this (violence) ... was unleashed deliberately.
“Ministers are already telling us there is a third force. Let them bring that evidence to the commission.”
There was a need for the inquiry to visit countries to which migrants had been repatriated and gather evidence and testimonies from the victims of the attacks.
Holomisa was addressing a gathering at the Twelve Apostles Church in Bloemfontein to mark Africa Day. He called on churches to constantly monitor political leaders and scrutinise the work they were doing. Religious leaders had played a crucial role in South Africa before 1994, but were shunned by politicians after the elections that year. - Daily Dispatch
United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa and provincial Democratic Alliance boss Athol Trollip sat side by side at a meeting in Mthatha, where they slammed the government on a number of issues.
But their main focus was on the xenophobic attacks that have swept the country.
Holomisa said corruption in the Department of Housing was the root cause of the recent brutality on South Africa’s streets.
“Many people have been queuing ... since 1994 for houses ... (and) the fact that those who arrive here illegally ... immediately get houses, ahead of the people who have been queuing for a long time, has actually triggered the violence,” Holomisa said.
He said the violence had been at its worst in places such as Alexandra, where the need for housing was greatest.
Trollip agreed with Holomisa’s statements and added that the Department of Home Affairs was equally to blame.
“They are responsible for the influx of people that are here illegally and that creates the kind of tension that we have seen,” Trollip said.
He said what angered South Africans was “the fact that illegal immigrants were given preference over locals”.
Both men said they were relieved that President Thabo Mbeki had deployed the army to assist the police in bringing the attacks to a halt.
After the meeting the two leaders drove off in the same vehicle.
Yesterday, Holomisa called on the government to appoint a commission of inquiry to probe the violence. He said a transparent probe would determine whether or not the attacks were “deliberate and orchestrated”.
“The key here would be to remove any kind of suspicion that this (violence) ... was unleashed deliberately.
“Ministers are already telling us there is a third force. Let them bring that evidence to the commission.”
There was a need for the inquiry to visit countries to which migrants had been repatriated and gather evidence and testimonies from the victims of the attacks.
Holomisa was addressing a gathering at the Twelve Apostles Church in Bloemfontein to mark Africa Day. He called on churches to constantly monitor political leaders and scrutinise the work they were doing. Religious leaders had played a crucial role in South Africa before 1994, but were shunned by politicians after the elections that year. - Daily Dispatch
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