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Zuma apologises for South African pogroms |
Dozens of migrants died in the riots, including at least 20 Mozambicans, while over 40,000 Mozambicans fled from South Africa.
Zuma was speaking at a press conference at the Maputo International Airport on his arrival on a three-day visit, aimed to boost the long-standing ties between the ANC and Mozambique's ruling Frelimo Party.
"We would like to apologise sincerely", said Zuma, "We were very surprised by what we refer to as xenophobic attacks, because for many years there had never been any such incident or attack in South Africa.
"For decades, we have lived together with Mozambicans, Zimbabweans, people from Lesotho or Botswana," he said, adding "we participated with them in the struggle. Under apartheid many Mozambicans went to prison in South Africa."
He noted that the riots had been so indiscriminate that many South Africans were also among the dead. (He was presumably referring to cases where South Africans who happened to speak the Shangaan language were wrongly identified as Mozambicans.)
Zuma said the ANC was still investigating the causes of the pogroms, noting that crime had been a significant factor, with gangs looting foreigners' possessions
He acknowledged that South African residents in the affected areas had complaine d of "poor service delivery, that they didn't have houses or water. But that's got nothing to do with foreigners.
"We are very sorry about what happened, and we think it will not happen again," he stressed.
Asked about the apparent breakdown of the talks over the future of Zimbabwe, Zum a insisted that a negotiated solution between the ruling ZANU-PF and the opposit i on Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was the only way forward.
He pointed out that, "in any negotiations, talks can be deadlocked and require t he facilitators and the mediators to look at the issues.
"The leadership on both sides should realise that negotiations are a matter of g ive and take and of compromise," he reasoned.
Zuma said neither the anti-foreigner pogroms nor the Zimbabwean crisis posed a t hreat to the projected economic integration of the SADC (Southern African Develo p ment Community) region, saying "the question of integration is strategic for all
SADC members."
He was convinced that, once the current crisis was solved, "Zimbabwe will be bac k on its feet."
Asked whether his possible trial on corruption charges would adversely affect th e ANC, Zuma said "the trial will not affect the ANC at all. It will affect a cit i zen of South Africa who is not above the Constitution.
"If there are charges that the state thinks need to be answered, no citizen can refuse," he pointed out, assuring "If there are charges, I'm more than ready to defend myself and prove my innocence.
"Under the rule of law, we cannot say that there is any citizen who cannot be ta ken to court," Zuma added.
Stressing the importance of strengthening relations between the ANC and Frelimo, he said in the SADC region, "relations tend to be between governments and the p r oblem is that they are too formal, and you can't discuss the issues frankly as comrades."
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