GOOD statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
4 August 2022
Unlike 13 months ago, when the imprisonment of former President Zuma triggered an orgy of destruction, looting and violence, the State at all levels must step up and take responsibility to prevent the shocking multiple rape allegedly perpetrated by illegal miners in Krugersdorp last week from igniting a new wave of anarchy.
The fact that the rapists are allegedly foreign nationals in the country illegally feeds into growing xenophobic sentiment fuelled by unscrupulous politicians and new “community” organisations… But also fuelled by people’s lived experience, and desperation for jobs and dignified lives.
Events in Kagiso today – where members of the community began rounding up and beating “Zama-Zamas”, as the illegal miners are called, and burning their dwellings – were characterised by a remarkable absence of police for several hours.
Protestors argued that they were forced to protect themselves from the miners’ illegal activities because they felt unsafe in the streets and were not being protected by police. The protestors did not take kindly to being forcefully dispersed by police, when they eventually turned up.
Thirteen months ago, the intensity of what the State termed an attempted insurrection appeared to take the intelligence and policing community by surprise. What is unfolding in Kagiso today cannot be a surprise to anyone.
The whole country knows that illegal miners have been busy in the area without any consequences for several years. It knows that the country’s immigration policies are not being sustainably applied. It knows that xenophobia is being deliberately organised and stoked. And it knows that areas in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape are on a knife edge as a result.
South Africa is a violent and patriarchal society, with a shameful record of gender-based violence. Most gender-based violence in the country is perpetrated by South African men.
South Africa also has a shameful record of xenophobic violence perpetrated against African immigrants by South African men who hawk the false narrative that the immigrants are to blame for all South Africa’s woes, including the level of criminality.
The nationality of the Krugersdorp rapists is not the point; it’s a spark in a tinder box of poverty, criminality, impunity, xenophobia – and increasing loss of hope.
The GOOD Party calls on the State to deploy all the resources at its command to protect the rights of all people in the land to safety, and to prevent community anger and frustration from being whipped into another hugely costly conflagration beyond its control.
Media Enquiries:
Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
Cell: 0825183264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za
Janke Tolmay, GOOD: Media ManagerCell: 0733671223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za