The South African Government has responded to Xenophobia threats by South Africans against foreign truck drivers. The responsible ministries called the threats “economic sabotage perpetrated by criminal elements” and they have assured the rest of the world that action will be taken to counter the problem.
This came to light in a joint statement issued by these 4 ministers after an urgent meeting to address the issue:
- Transport Minister – Fikile Mbalula,
- Police Minister – Bheki Cele,
- Home Affairs Minister – Aaron Motsoaledi
- Employment and Labour Minister -Thulas Nxesi
Part of the joint statement after the meeting read:
The meeting further noted that the events are turning more violent and criminal; the South African Police Service will continue to act against any acts of lawlessness. It is important to note that South Africa is not a xenophobic country and whoever is found on the wrong side of the law will be dealt with
The outcome made the following resolutions:
- Law enforcement would ensure that the authority of the state was not undermined and increase visibility in violent hot spots
- The department of international relations and cooperation, regional counterparts should be engaged to address this matter
- There would be continuous joint inspections taking place in all provinces to ensure compliance in the sector
- The task team had agreed to develop a clear action plan and provide regular updates on the progress made to the joint inter-ministerial task team.
More: African News Agency