Pretoria – Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane says the people who have looted shops belonging to foreign nationals in the province are “opportunistic criminals”.
In a statement on Tuesday, Mokonyane condemned the looting and called on communities to help identify the culprits so they may be brought to the book.
“These are clear acts of opportunistic crimes on a vulnerable group of Gauteng residents by a minority of hooligans living in our communities.
“Gauteng is a melting pot of all cultures and highly disappointing is that these acts take place during Africa Month, which highlights the unity of Africans across the continent,” she said.
Mokonyane joins other government leaders who have condemned the acts that were reported in areas such as Sedibeng in the West Rand, and Diepsloot in northern Johannesburg and in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg.
On Saturday, when the continent celebrated Africa Day, Obed Bapela, the Deputy Minister in the Presidency: Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation, condemned all forms of xenophobic behaviour, and called on South Africans to re-define themselves as Africans.
On Tuesday, Mokonyane called on South Africans to unite against any form of violence.
“We call upon all our people across the province to refrain from taking part in attacks that we have seem in areas such Sedibeng and Diepsloot.
“We must all ensure that a repeat of 2008 does not happen.” – SAnews.gov.za
