Written by Mxolisi Ncube   

JOHANNESBURG – The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), on Thursday condemned the re-eruption of xenophobic attacks in Cape Town, which have displaced an estimated 2 500 predominantly Zimbabwean foreign nationals.

The attacks erupted on Tuesday, with South Africans accusing the African immigrants of stealing their jobs and competing with them for scarce social services.
“NUMSA notes with deepest concern and condemns with the contempt it deserves, the re-eruption of xenophobic attacks in our country,” said Irvin Jim, the General Secretary of NUMSA in a statement.
“About 2500 Zimbabwean and other migrants from across the African continent had to take shelter and refuge at government buildings in De Doorns.  
“This represents a gross reminder of what happened last year when xenophobic eruptions broke out in different parts of our country. Last year's xenophobic attacks caused the deaths of more than 70 and the displacement of over 120 000 people.”
NUMSA called on authorities to move swiftly and take appropriate action to ensure that these xenophobic attacks are eliminated once and for all.
“Over and above short-term measures that include getting the law to take its course, government needs to adopt a radical programme to tackle the problems of persisting poverty and high unemployment rate, widening inequality, the disconcerting state of service delivery, corruption and crime,” added Jim.
“We reiterate our stance that at the centre of this programme must be the objective for restoring the wealth of our country and productive capacity to the people as a whole, rather than an enrichment of a few politically connected individuals who would find no problem in joining yesterday’s oppressor to exploit the masses.”
NUMSA said that it found it “extremely disturbing” that labour brokers were actively involved in promoting xenophobic attacks.
“They destroy the quality of jobs and once this is done, cut and paste workers between precarious jobs,” said Jim.
“In all this labour brokers take advantage of undocumented migrant labour as a source of cheap labour and therefore more profits. This strengthens our case for labour brokers to be abolished.
“As NUMSA we have streamlined a fight against xenophobia in our daily operations against economic exploitation and all forms of discrimination.  
“We call on all the people of South Africa, the working class and poor in particular to reject xenophobia and redirect struggles against capitalism as the fundamental problem.”

 http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/2009111926827/human-rights/numsa-condemns-xenophobic-attacks.html

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