Zulu King calls for consultations over xenophobia violence in SA

Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini has called for an consultative meeting involving all traditional leaders to address the ongoing xenophobia violence in parts of South Africa, authorities said on Friday.

The king is inviting all relevant tribal leaders to attend the meeting scheduled for Monday, said Senzo Mchunu, Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Province, where the latest round of xenophobia violence first erupted in late March.

Mchunu had met with Zwelithini before making the announcement, according to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

The premier said he believed that the meeting will give the king a platform to speak directly to the people about the issue of xenophobic attacks.

"We support this imbizo (consultative meeting) so that - among other things - His Majesty may get an opportunity to play a role, a meaningful role so to speak, by adding his voice on the call for peace, on the call against foreign nationals being attacked," Mchunu said.

Zwelithini has been blamed for making inflammatory remarks that sparked the latest spate of violence against foreign nationals.

In a March 20 speech in Pongola in rural KwaZulu-Natal, Zwelithini said: "We are requesting those who come from outside to please go back to their countries".

He said the fact that other African countries that played a role in South Africa's struggle for liberation "should not be used as an excuse to create a situation where foreigners are allowed to inconvenience locals".

Zwelithini said that during South Africa's liberation struggle, South Africans did not set up businesses in these other countries. Yet now nationals from these countries were setting up businesses in South Africa.

This speech touched on a common grievance among poorer South Africans, who claim foreigners are depriving them of jobs and business opportunities.

Soon after the king's speech, violence flared up in various parts of Durban and later spread to Johannesburg.

Government ministers have held meetings with the king since Monday.

Meanwhile, lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) intend on laying a hate speech complaint against President Jacob Zuma's son, Edward and Zwelithini, the SABC said.

The complaint, to be lodged with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), refers to their comments about foreigners in the country.

Edward is also accused of making inflammatory remarks that are seen as echoing inaccurate and damaging assumptions about foreigners.

LHR's lawyer Patricia Erasmus said both should publicly retract their statements.

"What they have done is chosen to make damaging statements which have flared violence and furthered intolerance of foreign people in South Africa. It's very unfortunate that these statements have been made and it's not something that should be left without redress so to that end LHR is preparing an official complaint to the SA Human Rights Commission. And in addition to this we will not rule out the possibility of approaching the Equality Court should that be an appropriate step further on down the line," Erasmus was quoted by the SABC as saying. Endi