Xenophobia taints S/Africa’s Freedom Day celebrations

South Africa is celebrating Freedom Day on Monday amid reports that some foreign nationals are still afraid to return to their former residential areas in Chatsworth Township of Durban and other trouble spots in the country for fear of being attacked again, APA has learnt.

Freedom Day marks 21 years since all races in the country won the right to vote in the country’s first free and fair elections that included the black majority in 1994, ushering in a new democratic dispensation that saw Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s first black president after centuries of white minority rule under the apartheid system.

The occasion, however, coming soon following an uneasy calm after two weeks of deadly xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals, has been tainted by a minority group of the population who took the law in their own hands following encouragement from Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini’s hate speech that preceded the violent events.

The influential tribal leader had told the foreign nationals to pack up their bags and return home.

This message was taken as an order by hard core criminals and others to begin physically harming the foreigners in attacks, robbing them of their money and possessions, and chasing them from townships in Durban and Johannesburg where they lived and owned small-scale businesses.

The subdued celebrations are expected to take place countrywide, with the main Freedom Day event taking place at the Union Buildings (seat of government) in the capital Pretoria.

Freedom Day — which is observed on the 27th of April every year – is expected to attract thousands of people as the authorities showcase South Africa’s diversity from music and dance as well as military displays.