PRETORIA: Although some hostility towards immigrants in South Africa persists, many foreigners had been reintegrated back into their communities, Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said yesterday.
She was speaking ahead of the Constitutional Court's decision on whether Gauteng refugee shelters could stay open or not.
Speaking of her visit to Atteridgeville near here in March, she said she noticed that people were talking "past each other" about foreigners.
She added that the loss of over 60 lives in the xenophobic attacks was due to "pure criminality".
This opinion was shared by Minister in the Presidency, Essop Pahad, who called the xenophobic violence which started on May 12 "dastardly" and "systematic attacks".
SA Human Rights Commission chairperson Jody Kollapen said although the Constitution made provision for diversity, this was still a very "romantic and elusive" notion.
"We are grappling with who we are," he told delegates.
Xenophobia also adversely affected immigrant children.
The Africa Institute of SA's Patrick Matlou said South Africans needed to travel more in Africa to become acquainted with other cultures.
The Methodist Church's Bishop Paul Verryn said that xenophobia was a "world phenomenon" and not restricted to South Africa.
The House of Traditional Leaders blamed the attacks on colonialism and the apartheid regime.
The conference ends today. – Sapa
In Cape Times
CSVR is a multi-disciplinary institute that seeks to understand and prevent violence, heal its effects and build sustainable peace at the community, national and regional levels.
