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S. African gov't vows to crack down on criminals following xenophobic attacks

Xinhua, April 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

The South African government will not rest until all criminals are behind bars following the recent xenophobia attacks, a government minister said on Tuesday.

South Africa's Inter-ministerial Committee on Migration (IMC), appointed by President Jacob Zuma, will investigate the root causes of the xenophobic attacks that ravaged parts of the country for a second time since January, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe told reporters in Pretoria.

The IMC comprises various government ministries, including Police, Defense, Home Affairs, Security and the Presidency.

Radebe, who heads the committee, said the committee will leave no stone unturned in its bid to uproot the real causes of attacks directed at foreigners.

In the latest spate of xenophobia violence, seven people were killed and thousands of foreigners displaced.

"The mandate of this IMC has been broadened to deal with all the underlying causes of the tensions between communities and the foreign nationals.

"Some of the areas to be addressed, is the implementation of our labor relations policies as they affect the foreign nationals; the implementation of the laws that govern business licenses; the country's border management and generally the country's migration policies," Radebe said.

He added that the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), which is the structure for coordinating government response to emergencies, has been activated to restore peace and order in communities.

He also revealed that a joint operation of the police and the army, code named Operation Fiela, which means "reclaim", has been deployed in various parts of the country to put a stop to all criminal activities.

Radebe said, "Government is determined to restore and maintain order within our communities. Operation Fiela is an operation to rid our country of illegal weapons, drug dens, prostitution rings and other illegal activities. This operation is a multidisciplinary interdepartmental operation.

"The focus of the operation, amongst others, will be on the following crimes; illicit drugs, undocumented migrants, prostitution, illegal fire arms, unlicensed businesses and possession of illegal goods and products."

The minister said the operation, launched a week ago, has already started bearing positive results, which include the arrest of 265 suspects, 423 wanted criminals, and 384 undocumented migrants.

Radebe said those arrested will receive harsh sentences.

"The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has given priority to the prosecution of cases related to attacks against foreign nationals. Perpetrators of these crimes can expect that prosecutors will ask courts to impose sentences of direct imprisonment.

"We are not taking a business as usual approach but we want to ensure that the perpetrators of these vile acts are dealt with as speedily as possible," he said. As the press briefing was underway, police said eight suspects were arrested for looting foreign owned shops in Regorogile Township, Limpopo Province.

Police spokesperson Ronnel Otto said a group of people broke into the shops on Monday night and then set alight and burned one of the shops.

At the press briefing in Pretoria, Minister of Defense and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Ngqakula said the army will remain on the ground until the streets are safe.

"For as along as police are conducting the kind of operations which they are involved in now, the defense force will be there to provide support. In the event the police have planned operations for a number of months, the army will remain on the ground to give the support required by the police," said Ngqakula.

The Minister of State Security David Mahlobo said South Africa will no longer be the same after this operation.

"That is intended to reclaim our space and hand it back to communities," he said. "We have no other agenda except to ensure that all people within our country are safe.

"The operation will continue. There is no place that will become a safe haven for criminals," the minister added. Endi