South Africa apologizes to Mozambique for xenophobic attacks

South African President Jacob Zuma apologized to Mozambique on Wednesday for recent xenophobic attacks against foreigners living in South Africa, in which three Mozambicans died.

Zuma, who is on a two-day state visit to Mozambique, said that such acts have no justification taken into consideration the brotherhood ties between the people from the two nations, and that the attacks were committed by a minority group that does not represent the whole South Africa.

"It is important for us to apologize, for the acts of a small minority of South Africans which does not represent the desire of South African people, we have good relations with a number of countries including Mozambique and we never had problems," said Zuma.

Both countries agreed to reinforce and improve the implementation of agreements so far signed.

Mozambican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Oldemiro Baloi said that during the talks between Zuma and Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, they went through the latest events that mark both nations among them, xenophobia and deportation and they concluded that they must improve communication so that such acts occur with as the lowest incidents as possible.

The two countries also talked about the political and economic situation between the two nations, their presence in the Southern Africa Development Community.

According to Baloi, Nyusi accepted an invitation for a state visit to South Africa issued by Zuma during the talks.

During his stay, Zuma will also address the Mozambican Parliament, the Assembly of the Republic.

Zuma had lived in Mozambique during the struggle against the South African Apartheid regime, until its independence in 1994. Mozambique became one of the African National Congress (ANC) rear bases in the southern African region during the struggle. Endi