South African bishops warn against post world cup xenophobia

(July 10, 2010) The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference is expressing concern that after the 2010 FIFA World Cup is over following Sunday’s final match, xenophobic violence will soon erupt in South Africa. Conference president, Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg, expressed the bishops’ fear in a statement released on Thursday. South Africa's government on Thursday played down concerns that locals will turn on poor African migrants competing for scarce jobs in the continent's largest economy when the curtain falls on the soccer World Cup. Migrants from African states and nongovernmental groups said foreigners have been leaving due to renewed threats of xenophobic violence in the country where attacks in 2008 left 62 migrants dead and around 100,000 homeless. A delegation of religious leaders, led by Archbishop Tlhagale raised concerns about the possibility of xenophobic riots in a meeting with South African President Jacob Zuma on July 1. Speaking on behalf of the Catholic bishops, Archbishop Tlhagale urged “those tempted to violence for whatever reason find other means of expressing their grievances." He called on the government and communities at all levels to confront the issue of violence in a proactive and productive manner that will make for peace and tolerance. He expressed particular concern that the "xenophobic attacks" would target "foreigners," or those people from other countries now living legally in South Africa. Archbishop Tlhagale urged the government to "manage the legal flow of people in and out of the country" to "ensure that legitimate migrants are provided with proper documentation and the ability to settle peacefully into the South African community having gone through the proper application processes."