Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Johannesburg (Agenzia Fides) - “We are not going to allow anybody to use illegal means to achieve their objective. we are saying this is a government that is legitimate, has been elected democratically, anything that is be done, must be done within in the law and the constitution,” said Co-operative Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka of South Africa, following violent clashes between police and demonstrators in the Siyathemba Township in Johannesburg.
For some days now, in various parts of South Africa, the poorest of the population have taken to the streets to place pressures on President Jacob Zuma, asking that he keep his promises of aid which he made prior to his election three months ago. The protests have led to clashes with the police who have reacted by firing on demonstrators with rubber bullets and tear gas.
The people are calling for access to drinking water and electricity, decent housing, and jobs. Since the end of Apartheid, in 1994, up until today, those who remain in the Township have not seen any improvement in their living conditions. According to government statistics, however, in 1994, the population of the Township saw 4 million families living in poverty, while now the number has dropeed to one million, thanks to the construction of 2.8 million homes. Poverty is still widespread: 43% of the population live on less than 2 dollars per day and 40% of the work force is unemployed.
President Zuma promised during the electoral campaign that he would adopt a policy that was efficient in responding to the problems of the poorest of the population, but the global financial crisis threatens to undermine his efforts. Other problems come from widespread corruption and bureaucratic rivalries among the various administrations, both on a national and local level.
The fatigue of the population also threatens to increase xenophobia in relationship to the immigrants and refugees that continue to enter South Africa in search of a better life or simply for survival. Xenophobic violence directed towards refugees from Zimbabwe and immigrants from Mozambique and other places broke out in 2008 (see Fides 26 and 29/5/2008). This year, as well, episodes of xenophobic intolerance, especially against several Somalian businessmen (see Fides 7/7/2009). Among the incidents of recent days, several seemed to have a xenophobic tendency, such as that of Mpumalanga (northwestern part of the country), on the border with Mozambique, where apparently foreign businesses were sacked and burned.
It is estimated that South Africa is home to somewhere between 3 and 5 million illegal African immigrants, out of a population of 47 million inhabitants. The authorities also fear that the World Cup set to take place in South Africa in 2010 will allow for a large number of illegal immigrants to enter the country, as they will blend in with the foreign fans. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 23/7/2009)
