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Pretoria - There were no busloads of people coming to attack South Africans or foreign nationals, Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba said on Sunday.
He was responding to threats doing the rounds via SMS and WhatsApp after a wave of deadly xenophobic violence recently hit KwaZulu-Natal before spreading to Gauteng.
“There will be no bus or train coming to attack South Africans or foreign nationals anywhere. We are determined that if there is any such information that is accurate we will stop those buses and act," said Gigaba.
“As government we remain alert and any credible information that suggest[s] an imminent threat against any community... South Africans will be officially advised by the relevant authorities.
“We will not communicate it through WhatsApp messages and anonymous texts.”
At least six people have been killed in the violence, including a teenage boy, and thousands of foreign nationals displaced. Police could not confirm on Sunday morning reports of a seventh death in Alexandra, Johannesburg over the weekend.
“To the countries that continue to invest in South Africa, we want to reassure them that South Africa is a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law,” Gigaba said.
“Investors are welcome to do business. Everything is [being] done to restore peace and order. Government will enforce the laws of the country to act speedily [and] decisively on any criminal activity committed by or against a foreign national or a citizen of South Africa.”
Gigaba said government has held meetings with church leaders to help spread peace messages.
“Engagements are ongoing with religious leaders broadly, cultural organisations, as well as civic structures to build a society-wide front against the violence,” Gigaba said.
“We unequivocally condemn the maiming and killing of our brothers and sisters from other parts of the African continent,” he said.
“No amount of frustration or anger can justify these attacks and looting of shops.”
