Vodacom enters xenophobia debate

Johannesburg, 26 May 2008

Cellular giant Vodacom has issued an appeal to government and South Africans to "display self-restraint" as Gauteng's xenophobic attacks spread to the Western Cape, Mpumalanga, North West and KwaZulu-Natal.

Yesterday, a report by the South African Press Association quoted police spokesperson Govindsamy Mariemuthoo as saying the death toll from immigrant-based attacks had risen to 50 in Gauteng. Police have made 500 arrests, while 17 000 people have been displaced.

In a statement over the weekend, Vodacom chairman Oyama Mabandla condemned xenophobia and the violence associated with it.

"The violent attacks against citizens from other African countries don't do SA proud and they don't do Africa proud. It is time for South Africans to display self-restraint. While it is clear that the attacks against foreigners are the symptom of deep-seated problems in our society, we can not afford to burn down the house before we have tried to save it. Scape-goating our fellow Africans for these stresses and unleashing an orgy of violence and plunder against them is both egregiously wrong and shameful," he said.

On behalf of Vodacom, Mabandla called on political, religious, business and civic leaders to urgently and seriously address the complex issues around the obvious distress and conflict in poor communities.

"Now is the time for all South Africans to stop this shameful episode in our history. We are calling on the attackers to lay down their weapons and our leaders to inspire confidence that solutions will be found," Mbandla said.

In the meantime, Vodacom chief communications officer Dot Field says the operator is setting up a fund to aid the victims of the far-reaching violence. She was unable to put a figure to this fund as the company is still investigating how much is needed and what Vodacom can do to help the displaced.