South African bishops knock Ramaphosa over attacks on Nigerians, others

Catholic Bishops in South Africa have dismissed claims by the
South African government that the attacks on Nigerians and other
foreigners in the former apartheid nation were not xenophobic as
incorrect.

This was contained in a statement by Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of
the Southern African Catholic Bishop’s Conference Office for
Migrants and Refugees on Saturday.

Tlhagale said they were not happy with the attack on foreign
nationals in South Africa.

He said, “Once again we received reports of the authorities
doing very little to protect the victims. We received reports of
police standing by idly in Pretoria while shops were being looted
and people attacked. Not a single arrest was made on that day.

“Once again the authorities resort to the old explanation: that
this is not xenophobia, but the work of criminal elements.

“Let us be absolutely clear – this is not an attempt by
concerned South Africans to rid our cities of drug dealers. And
this is not the work of a few criminal elements. It is xenophobia,
plain and simple. If it was about drugs, why are South African drug
dealers not being targeted as well? Are we really to believe that
there are none? And why are drug addicts who rob people in our city
centres to get money to buy drugs not being targeted? If it is the
work of a few criminal elements, why are South African-owned
businesses not being looted as well?”

He added, “The teaching of the Church is direct and
uncompromising. More than 80 per cent of South Africans claim to be
Christians. What are our religious leaders teaching the multitudes
that fill our Churches every Sunday? Galatians 3:28 says, ‘There is
neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male
and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus’.

“By the same token, there is neither South African nor Nigerian
nor Ethiopian. We are all one in Christ Jesus.

“Let us take heed of this. We are facing a rising tide of hatred
and intolerance, no different to the rising tide of hatred in Nazi
Germany. If we do not take urgent actions to stop it, there will be
nothing left.”

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