Archbishop Desmond Tutu has apologised to victims of anti-immigrant violence in South Africa, in a sometimes tearful sermon to thousands from different faiths and backgrounds on Sunday.
”The diocese of Johannesburg called together people and said we need to repent and so this is a service of repentance in which we confess our sins of xenophobia,” the Nobel Peace Prize laureate told the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
The outspoken Tutu delivered the service, his voice breaking, as he recalled the violence in which over 60 people were killed in an outbreak of attacks against immigrants in May.
”We were welcomed as exiles, as freedom fighters in those African lands. Could we really have forgotten so soon?”
Tens of thousands of people were displaced in the violence, first fleeing to shelters and police stations, then to camps set up by the government. A similar number returned to their home countries.
Angry locals trying to purge foreigners from poverty-stricken townships claimed immigrants were contributing to high crime rates and taking up jobs.
”We won’t tolerate this,” Tutu told the crowd.
”Those who have been victims, we want to tell them we are sorry and we will not repeat this.”
Violence flares
Violence flared at a refugee camp in Glenanda, Johannesburg, on July 16 after four men leapt over the camp fence and demanded to see the camp’s leaders. The men were then apparently held hostage by camp members until police arrived on Thursday morning.
Although details were sketchy, it appeared the men were wearing the uniforms of security guards and ”wanted to speak to the camp’s leaders”, according to Hussein Niyibigira, a camp leader from Burundi.
”Four unknown men crossed the fence and came into our camp last night and we were suspicious because they wore orange uniforms and the security guards that guard here did not know them,” said Niyibigira.
Thirty-four refugee shelters were set up in the aftermath of the violence that swept the country in May. An estimated 32 000 people were displaced; the camp in Rifle Range Road, Glenanda, shelters 1 700 of these people, most of whom were previously placed in the Jeppe and Cleveland police stations. – Sapa, AFP, Staff reporter