Media Coverage

Tongaat Hulett response to xenophobia incidences

Xenophobic incidences that gripped South Africa and the world for the last two weeks, were largely concentrated in the metropolis of three Provinces, namely Western Cape ( Cape Town metro), Gauteng ( Johannesburg , Tshwane/Pretoria and Ekurhuleni/Germiston metros) and KwaZulu Natal ( Durban metro). The incidences occurred in areas that have the predominance of foreign nations, i.e., the central business district where there is a concentration of residential accommodation and also in the urban periphery where there are more informal settlements. In the main, the incidents targeted non-South African blacks and in some areas like KZN, included non-Zulu speaking South Africans.

National and Provincial Response
The incidences were described as act of criminality by a few rouge elements and widely condemned in the strongest possible way and unreserved apology extended by the State President, all levels of government, business and civic society leaders, to all affected and their countries. Civic marches and prayers against xenophobia were held around the country. Security forces moved in swiftly and have to date arrested more than one thousand three hundred people (1 300) who will soon appear before a special court. Safe Centres to temporarily accommodate affected people were established near the areas where the incidents occurred and civil society and business responded generously with gifts, food, etc.

General Impact of the incidences
Media reports that 53 people were murdered and thousands injured over 30 000 people were displaced and that thousands left South Africa for their home countries. Most incidences happened in Gauteng and Western Cape .

Tongaat Hulett (TH) response
TH is an agri-processing company with significant interests in agriculture, land management and property development with business operations covering the SADC region. TH operations in South Africa are mainly in KwaZulu Natal (sugar cane farming, milling and refining, and property development), Gauteng and Western Cape (starch mills). After consultation with other operations, it is confirmed that no incidences took place in any of the company's operations and no reports of staff affected by the incidences were received.

In the Durban north region, a Safe centre was set up at the Verulam Police Station. This centre accommodated all displaced people north of Durban to Tongaat. In consultation with the police (Captain Jali) TH donated goods to the value of R20 000.00, largely food and blankets, two marquees and toilets, and loaned them two television sets. Staff requested the opportunity to contribute and such voluntary contributions are being collected through the local Human Resources offices.

Current Situation
Police reports this morning stated that the situation is under control as there are no new incidences reported. In some areas displaced people are being welcomed back by their neighbours and communities and police are keeping an eye on the situation.

At Verulam Centre it is noted that during the day on normal working days, very few people remain in the Centre as others go back to their respective places of employment/economic activity and only return for the night and the weekends. It is further noted that many of the displaced people do not have identification documents.

It is anticipated that more people will voluntarily leave Safe Centres and either return to where they were displaced from or find new places to stay.

Post mortem
It is perhaps premature to authoritatively express an opinion on what the underlying causes are. However, media commentators are quoting the underlying causes as the ‘frustration with the slow pace of delivery of social and economic expectations promised by democracy and government and local competition for limited opportunities and resources at the lower levels of socio-economic strata'. Some RSA nationals blame foreign nationals for their plight.

National Minister of Housing, Min. Sisulu commenting on the government progress on housing provision and eradication of informal settlements by 2012, was quoted (The Mercury, 28/05/08:6) as saying that she ‘ understood that our people have run out of patience, the increasing national backlog of housing units now stands at 2.1 million units and with a (2008/9) budget of R10.6 billion, government can only build 266 000 units. To address the problem by 2012, the government needs R120 billion…there is simply no money to cope with the level of urban migration, which is bout, 3% p.a (1.2 million people), well above international average of 2.5%'.

A further cause for concern is that in Verulam there are RSA nationals who are non-Zulu speaking who are also being violated because they ‘do not belong to the Province'. Such perception could have serious consequences for the agriculture and construction sector, which are the largest employers of labour.

Way Forward
The situation will be closely monitored and emerging trends collated to inform a TH remedial strategy.

Bosa Keys (Stakeholder Relations Officer – Developments) is the main information coordinator and liaison. She can be reached on +27 31 560 1921, Bosa.Keys@thdev.co.za . Should you have any queries or information to share, kindly contact her.

Bongani R Gumede - 28 May 2008