Xenophobic attacks worrying, says Amazulu’s Were
A man carries an axe as he walks past a burnt out vehicle near the Jeppies Hostles, where foreign nationals are living, in the Jeppestown area of Johannesburg, on April 17, 2015 after residence from the Jeppie Hostles, purportedly torched the vehicle in the early hours. AFP PHOTO | MUJAHID SAFODIEN
What you need to know:
- Hundreds of South Africans have in the past few days unleashed violence against foreigners in the country, with the international media reporting of injuries, destruction of property and deaths as a result of the fracas.
- Pleas by the country’s President Jacob Zuma for an end to the violence have since been ignored, with further reports suggesting the crisis has since spread from Durban to Johannesburg.
- Kenya is one of six African countries that plan to pull out their citizens from the country should the situation persist. Were moved to the top flight South African football league in a three year deal in mid 2014.
South Africa-based Kenyan footballer Paul Were has been forced to limit his movements in the wake of the latest Xenophobic attacks in the country.
The player also exclusively told Saturday Nation Sport yesterday that scenes of violence witnessed in South Africa were horrific and traumatising and also unsettled foreigner players based in the country. The Kenya international is based in Durban, the city hardest hit by the attacks.
“The scenes are really horrific and stressful to foreigners based here,” the Amazulu forward said
“Violence has yet to spread to where I’m based but I am not taking chances. At the moment, I am based at the club house and I strictly use the team bus to and from training and matches,” he added.
Hundreds of South Africans have in the past few days unleashed violence against foreigners in the country, with the international media reporting of injuries, destruction of property and deaths as a result of the fracas.
Pleas by the country’s President Jacob Zuma for an end to the violence have since been ignored, with further reports suggesting the crisis has since spread from Durban to Johannesburg.
Kenya is one of six African countries that plan to pull out their citizens from the country should the situation persist. Were moved to the top flight South African football league in a three year deal in mid 2014.
The other Kenyan footballer in South Africa, Brian Mandela plays for Sanlam Santos in Cape Town.
