Indian businessmen facing threats to leave town in S Africa
Indian and Pakistani businessmen in a South African town have been threatened with violence if they do not pack their bags and leave.
By PTI |
DURBAN: Indian and Pakistani businessmen in a South African town have been threatened with violence if they do not pack their bags and leave, members of the community, reeling under the recent xenophobic violence that has left 63 people dead, have claimed.
"A group of local African people came to my shop and told me to leave or they will send us off," said Mehmood Ali, a Pakistani, who owns a business in Kranskop, about 200 km north of here.
He said businessmen of Indian and Pakistani origin have been told to "pack your bags and leave" or face the consequences.
"They warned us that if we don't leave then we will face the consequences. All we are trying to do is make a living," Ali said.
Another businessman said they were warned that what took place recently in Johannesburg would also be inflicted on them.
"The xenophobic attacks seem to have a terrible snow-balling effect among some people despite the government and leaders calling on people to accept and live with people from other countries," said the businessman.
A wave of violence against foreign nationals from Africa erupted in Johannesburg and spread to Durban, Cape Town and other parts of the country.
More than 63 people were killed and 70 000 displaced in the violence that forced the government to call out army in the streets for the first time since the apartheid days.
"Our family has been here for generations and we always had a very good relationship with the local community", said another businessman of South Asian origin.
"A group of local African people came to my shop and told me to leave or they will send us off," said Mehmood Ali, a Pakistani, who owns a business in Kranskop, about 200 km north of here.
He said businessmen of Indian and Pakistani origin have been told to "pack your bags and leave" or face the consequences.
"They warned us that if we don't leave then we will face the consequences. All we are trying to do is make a living," Ali said.
Another businessman said they were warned that what took place recently in Johannesburg would also be inflicted on them.
"The xenophobic attacks seem to have a terrible snow-balling effect among some people despite the government and leaders calling on people to accept and live with people from other countries," said the businessman.
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A wave of violence against foreign nationals from Africa erupted in Johannesburg and spread to Durban, Cape Town and other parts of the country.
More than 63 people were killed and 70 000 displaced in the violence that forced the government to call out army in the streets for the first time since the apartheid days.
"Our family has been here for generations and we always had a very good relationship with the local community", said another businessman of South Asian origin.
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