Buti Tlhagale, archbishop of the
Southern African Catholic bishops’ conference office for migrants and refugees,
says the recent attack on foreign nationals in the country is an act of
xenophobia, not criminality.
Bobby Moroe, South Africa’s high
commissioner to Nigeria, had said the attacks in his country have nothing to do
with xenophobia, but just “sporadic acts of violence”.
But in a statement he issued at
the weekend, Tlhagale said there are clear indications that foreigners were the
target.
While faulting the response of
security operatives in the country, he asked why South Africans who were
involved in drug peddling were not affected in the attacks.
“Once again we received reports
of the authorities doing very little to protect the victims. We received
reports of police standing by idly in Pretoria while shops were being looted
and people attacked. Not a single arrest was made on that day,” he said.
“Once again the authorities
resort to the old explanation: that this is not xenophobia, but the work of
criminal elements. Let us be absolutely clear – this is not an attempt by
concerned South Africans to rid our cities of drug dealers. And this is not the
work of a few criminal elements. It is xenophobia, plain and simple.
“If it was about drugs, why are
South African drug dealers not being targeted as well? Are we really to believe
that there are none? And why are drug addicts who rob people in our city
centres to get money to buy drugs not being targeted? If it is the work of a
few criminal elements, why are South African-owned businesses not being looted
as well?”
The bishops described the attacks
as a rising tide of hatred and intolerance.
“The teaching of the Church is
direct and uncompromising. More than 80 per cent of South Africans claim to be
Christians. What are our religious leaders teaching the multitudes that fill
our Churches every Sunday? Galatians 3:28 says, ‘There is neither Jew nor Gentile,
neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in
Christ Jesus’,” he said.
“By the same token, there is
neither South African nor Nigerian nor Ethiopian. We are all one in Christ
Jesus.
“Let us take heed of this. We are
facing a rising tide of hatred and intolerance, no different to the rising tide
of hatred in Nazi Germany. If we do not take urgent actions to stop it, there
will be nothing left.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
God bless this Bishop.
ReplyDelete