South Africa has repatriated
5,645 foreigners since the end of xenophobic attacks in late April, the
government said yesterday. A Minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe, who said
this in a statement, added that the foreigners chose to leave South Africa
voluntarily.
Malawians
made up the bulk of the foreigners, numbering 3,506, followed by Zimbabweans
(1,440) Mozambicans (682), while Tanzanians had (17). Mr. Radebe said the
repatriation process started soon after the latest spate of xenophobic violence
ended in April.
"The Department of Social Development continues to work
closely with other relevant departments, as well as civil society organisations
to provide support to displaced foreign nationals,” Mr. Radebe said. The
official also said over 1,000 foreigners received trauma counseling.
According
to the statement, 10 women with children under 12 months of which three had
just given birth were flown to their respective countries on their insistence.
Mr. Radebe further said the department would continue to do its work to ensure
that the underlying socio-economic issues that gave rise to tensions between
South Africans and foreign nationals were dealt with.
He
also defended the current Operation Fiela (meaning “sweep’’ in Sesotho
language) launched after the end of the xenophobia attacks. He said the
operation was meant to address the security challenges in a structured and
coordinated manner.
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