Police must put more boots on the ground to combat xenophobia‚ says SA Human Rights Commission

The South African Human Rights Commission has voiced its "strong condemnation" for acts of violence directed at foreign nationals.

Commenting on community violence in Pretoria West over the weekend and on Monday and in Rosettenville‚ Johannesburg‚ in the preceding week‚ the commission said in a statement: "We understand that the police are still investigating the facts relating to the two incidents and would wait until the investigation yields more information. The Commission is against and condemns any violent attacks on persons on the basis that they are foreign nationals and any destruction of property as both violate human rights of people‚ despite the reason."

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Communities in both cities have cited their concerns with high levels of crime linked to drugs and an alleged failure of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to respond adequately.

The Commission said it recognised the negative impact that crime has on communities and calls upon the SAPS to actively and effectively police and investigate the crimes communities have highlighted in their ongoing complaints. However‚ it called on the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

• SA government must do more to stop xenophobic violence before it flares up: Catholic ChurchThe Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) Justice and Peace Commission has called for calm and restraint amid fears that the planned march against foreign presence in Pretoria on Friday could spark xenophobic attacks. 

"The Commission further calls on the SAPS‚ in an effort to restore calm and maintain the rule of law to communities across South Africa‚ to increase their visibility and accessibility in affected areas as well as those of concern."