Evidence wa ka Ngobeni
Two days after the World Conference against Racism ended in Durban, thousands of Eastern Cape residents went on the rampage, looting shops belonging to foreign, Muslim businessmen.
Kwanobuhle police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Nkosinathi Isaac, who described the incident as the “worst xenophobic incident ever in the Eastern Cape”, said Somali and Nigerian businesses were targeted because they were successful.
He said unemployment was high in Kwanobuhle because of dismissals after the illegal strike at the Volkswagen plant and the closure of a local leather factory.
Isaac said locals claim they had no jobs and were struggling to support their families while foreigners prosper.
On Monday about 1000 people began looting Somali shops, stealing goods worth millions of rands.
Isaac said the problem started last Saturday after a group of between 100 and 150 people from Kwanobuhle invaded a local supermarket that was liquidated two weeks ago. “They heard that the supermarket, called Usave, which was owned by a Muslim guy, was being liquidated and they then decided to loot it,” he said.
“When they realised that they did not get enough from the supermarket they then proceeded and to attack other foreigners and Somalis.”
Witnesses who spoke to the Mail & Guardian said the looters, who were chanting anti-foreigner slogans, fled the area only after police moved in and fired rubber bullets and tear gas.
“You should have seen the scene. It was reminiscent of the apartheid days. People carrying goods including clothes and electronic equipment were all over the area, while a police helicopter hovered overhead,” an eyewitness said.
“It was total chaos I must say. More than 30 Somali shops were looted and one shop was set alight.”
The Kwanobuhle Islamic Centre was also targeted and looted. The centre’s windows were smashed and a bathtub used to wash the dead was destroyed.
“The situation was bad. People were streaming into the area in their hundreds and thousands,” said Isaac. “We only coped because we talked to them and convinced them to abandon their actions.
“The people were desperate and hungry. Some were running around with bags of mealie meal. They wanted food and fortunately they were not violent towards the police.”
By Tuesday police had restored calm to Kwanobuhle. The more than 40 foreigners who were targetted by the looters had fled the area. On Monday many took refuge at the Kwanobuhle police station.
Some of their goods were recovered by the police and are being kept at the police station. The police say the foreigners have refused to lay charges, saying it was “pointless”.
However, Isaac said the police on Monday arrested six youths who were looters and more arrests were imminent. “Our people should know that this is wrong. They should also know that these people [foreigners] are our brothers and sisters. They should be welcomed like anybody else,” Isaac said.
“A local church has arranged a community meeting so that the people can talk about this. We hope that this will make people aware of xenophobia and understand that everyone is welcome here.”
The Roll Back Xenophobia Campaign, which is a partnership project of the South African Human Rights Commission, the National Consortium on Refugee Affairs and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said the Kwanobuhle incident reflected on the country’s racialised xenophobia.
“Xenophobia in South Africa is largely targeted against people from African countries and the attacks and looting of Somali shops in Port Elizabeth and Kwanobuhle reflect this trend of racialised xenophobia,” the organisation said.