Violence in South Africa

William Gumede writes in the Independent about the violent attacks on foreign refugees in South Africa: "Long-standing official denial of xenophobia is at the heart of the terrible violence. ... For years, warnings ... that the regular attacks in townships, rural towns and inner-city slums on foreign Africans will soon escalate have been ignored by the South African government. ... Up to now South Africa has not developed any effective policy to deal with the largest mass immigration into the country – not only from Africa, but from the hotspots of Asia and Eastern Europe – in modern history. ... Making South Africa's infant democracy, institutions and leaders more responsive and accountable must be part of the solution to the problem of xenophobia."

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