[Marxism] `Our struggle knows no borders!' -- South African left, unions respond to xenophobic attacks | Links

[glparramatta]

May 21, 2008 -- According to the UN Integrated Regional Information 
Networks, as of May 19, 2008, the death toll in a wave of attacks 
targeting foreigners around South Africa's main city of Johannesburg has 
risen to at least 32, with an estimated 6000 people seeking shelter in 
police stations, churches and community halls. The violence has spread 
to Zandspruit, northwest of Johannesburg, and Tembisa, Primrose, Reiger 
Park and Thokoza, on the eastern perimeter of the city, as well as other 
working-class communities.

South African newspapers ran horrific images of people set alight by 
angry mobs, who roamed townships during the weekend looking for 
foreigners and looting their shops and homes. In the Troyville area, 
just east of the central business district and historically a migrant 
enclave, shops were closed and the usually busy streets were quiet. An 
estimated 2000 people had taken refuge in the nearby Jeppe Street police 
station after violence at the weekend.

President Thabo Mbeki announced on May 18 that a panel had been set up 
to investigate the attacks, but the South African Human Rights 
Commission (SAHRC), a constitutionally mandated watchdog, accused the 
government of failing to take the threat of xenophobia seriously.

Below are some of the responses by South Africa's left organisations and 
trade unions. More will be posted as they become available.

Full: http://links.org.au/node/429

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