Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini is the cause of the xenophobic attacks in SA.
Zulu king; Goodwil Zwelithini's speech on the 23rd of March unarguably birthed the xenophobic attacks on foreigners living in South Africa stating that he
1. SA traders in
the townships said they could not meet up
with the prices that foreign-owned businesses
were selling their products.
2; foreigners
involved themselves in criminal activities .
3. Lack of respect shown by
foreigners to locals.
Speaking to Pongolo community members
during a moral regeneration even, Zwelithini
accused government of failing to protect locals
from the "influx of foreign nationals".He said;
"Most government leaders do not want
to speak out on this matter because
they are scared of losing votes. As the
king of the Zulu nation, I cannot
tolerate a situation where we are being
led by leaders with no views
whatsoever.
"We are requesting those who come
from outside to please go back to their
countries. The fact that there were
countries that played a role in the
country's struggle for liberation should
not be used as an excuse to create a
situation where foreigners are allowed
to inconvenience locals. I know you
were in their countries during the
struggle for liberation. But the fact of
the matter is you did not set up
businesses in their countries," he said.
His comments were widely condemned with
the SA DA describing it "highly irresponsible'
'Particularly given the recent spate of
xenophobic attacks in South Africa, he should
do the right thing - retract and apologise,"
He didn't and his spokesman went on record
to say the King had nothing to apologize for,
that he meant every word he said.
"I think the people who're complaining
are misinterpreting his speech. He
didn't say foreigners must be attacked
or harassed. The king was talking
about foreigners who are here illegally.
Some are involved in serious crimes like
drug and human trafficking. We don't
need such people in our country so the
king is right." His spokesman said
After the killing spread across different cities,
the king has relented a little and is planning to
speak to his people this Monday in an effort to
quell the attacks. He's expected to address
the public directly and clarify his statement
and ask his people to stop the violence which
his words started
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