Maputo, 2 Jun (AIM) – At least seven Mozambican nationals have been killed in xenophobic attacks committed by South African citizens.
In recent months, various South African nationals have been carrying out anti-migrant protests against Africans, including Mozambicans. The focus of these xenophobic acts, which have been recurring, has been black Africans. Discrimination against foreign nationals has also been leading to looting, displacement, harassment, and deadly riots, in informal settlements.
“We regret to report the deaths of seven Mozambican citizens, five of whom were direct victims of xenophobic attacks and two others as a result of a road accident while traveling back to Mozambique in a private vehicle”, reads the statement.
Last Saturday, 300 Mozambicans returned to the country on their own. The remaining, just over 500, have been sheltered in a safe location in the Western Cape Province since then, and the process of their repatriation to Mozambique is underway.
These compatriots will be taken to their places of origin, specifically where they reside. The citizens in question come from the southern provinces Gaza, Inhambane and Maputo, and central province of Manica.
Upon their arrival at the Ressano Garcia border crossing in Maputo Province, the Mozambicans undergoing forced return to the country receive two food kits, one for their immediate use and another for the first 10 days of their resettlement in their areas of origin.
“Given the volatility of the situation – which includes the demand, by anti-immigrant groups, for certain groups of foreigners to leave the country by June 30th – the current situation is expected to worsen, and the government is working towards the necessary mitigation”, reads the document.
The country’s National Migration Service (SENAMI) has confirmed the deportation of around 600 Mozambicans who were victims of xenophobic violence in South Africa.
“The transport carrying Mozambicans will depart today at around 2 p.m. from Cape Town, South Africa, and will arrive in Maputo in the morning via the Ressano Garcia border post, the largest and main crossing point between the two countries”, said Juca Bata, SENAMI spokesperson.
According to Manuel Chicanhane, head of the Mozambican community in Western Cape Province, interviewed by Radio Moçambique, Mozambican nationals were killed and several others were injured during clashes with South African citizens in Mossel Bay region.
“The South Africans used instruments and machetes. Some Mozambican were stabbed and others were beaten with stones. That is how our Mozambican brothers lost their lives in a neighbourhood in Mossel Bay. Some Mozambicans are in hospital, but to this day we still do not have the total number of Mozambicans who have been hospitalized,” Chicanhane said.
According to government data, over 300,000 Mozambicans reside in South Africa. South Africa is Mozambique’s largest trading partner in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with trade ranging from 1.7 billion US dollars to two billion annually. Border traffic is intense, with 1,700 to 2,000 trucks crossing the borders daily, in addition to a strong informal cross-border trade.
Am/
