Some of the Malawians on Tuesday took refuge at a police station and a mosque in Durban’s Burnwood informal settlement where they lived side by side with the South Africans.
Following the xenophobic attacks, acting Government Communication and Information System director general, Phumla Williams, urged law enforcement agencies to ensure that perpetrators of the violent acts were brought to book.
“South Africans are generally peace-loving and friendly people and most of these attacks are nothing less of criminality. Government is receptive to people’s needs and urges all citizens to use the relevant platforms to express their concerns and frustrations, including talking to elected officials in their communities,” Williams said in an online statement.
She said South Africa was internationally renowned for using dialogue to solve differences and problems peacefully.
“Citizens from across the African continent supported our struggle for freedom and liberation and made immense sacrifices to provide safety and refuge to our people in exile, including our leaders,” Williams said.
South Africa, she added, has a high number of foreign nationals who are integrated into communities across the country and, as government, “we call on all South Africans and foreign nationals to live in harmony.”