Anti-xenophobia protesters threaten to shut down highways
Foreign nationals say government has done nothing to prevent xenophobic attacks.
Civil society organisations and foreign nationals marched to the Union Buildings to deliver a memorandum of demands to the office of the presidency.
But there was no one at the seat of government to receive it.
#AntiXenophobiaMarch Organiser "the message is clear the SA govt is behind the Xenophobia in the country" @Slindelo_M pic.twitter.com/3borns1RRx
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) March 9, 2017
WATCH #AntiXenophobia organisor "all we want is for them to acknowledge they received the memorandum. @Slindelo_M pic.twitter.com/6jtfA7w1sr
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) March 9, 2017
#AntiXenophobiaMarch marchers will disperse now that their memorandum has not been received. They will plan to occupy highways soon. SM pic.twitter.com/4ao6a6SAPo
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) March 9, 2017
The protesters are demanding an urgent meeting with President Jacob Zuma and government officials.
They want government to intensify efforts to root out corruption in the police service.
With no official present to acknowledge receipt of the memorandum, marchers resolved to take the fight to the streets.
The crowd shouted in agreement when a leader asked whether they should take their protest to the highways.
DRC national Prince Mpinda also pleaded with the international community to intervene.
"The world must see this. [It seems that] the right procedure is to go and kill foreigners in South Africa, but they are refusing to receive a simple memorandum to support South Africans and foreigners who are saying no to South Africans," says Mpinda.