S. African gov't vows to curb violence against foreigners

CAPE TOWN, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The South African government vowed on Thursday to curb a new spate of violence against foreigners in some parts of The country.

This followed reported attacks on foreign nationals in Kwazulu-Natal and Limpopo provinces earlier this week. In some incidents, foreign-owned shops were looted.

Foreigners are blamed for taking up jobs that should have been taken by locals. A message that has been circulating on social media since The weekend calls for protest action against The employment of foreigners as truck drivers and security guards.

The South African government calls on all stakeholders including community leaders to stop and discourage attacks on foreign nationals, spokesperson Phumla Williams said.

South Africans are generally peace loving and friendly people and most of These attacks are nothing less of criminality, she said.

"We urge law enforcement agencies to ensure that perpetrators of These violent acts are brought to book," said Williams.

Referring to concerns from The local communities over employment of foreigners, Williams said The government is receptive to people's needs and urges all citizens to use relevant platforms to express Their concerns and frustrations, including talking to elected officials in Their communities.

South Africa is internationally renowned for using dialogue to solve differences and problems peacefully, Williams said.

"As a peace-loving and law-abiding nation, we must use this noble approach to deal with our problems instead of using violence," she added.

South Africa is a constitutional democracy governed by laws and as such everyone working and living in The country is expected to be doing so legally and obey South Africa's laws in Their totality, Williams said.

"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," said Williams.

South Africa has a high number of foreign nationals who are integrated into communities across The country and The government calls on all South Africans and foreign nationals to live in harmony, she said.

The government remains committed to building a society based on democratic values of social justice, human dignity, equality, non-racialism, non-sexism and The advancement of human rights, Williams said.

Xenophobia-related attacks are not unrare in South Africa. In 2015, widespread violence against foreigners broke out in parts of The country, leaving several foreigners killed. Ever since, sporadic incidents of xenophobia-related attacks have been reported.