News / Africa
Zimbabwean professionals live in SA fear
19 Apr 2015 at 10:40hrs | Views
Expatriate teachers, particularly Zimbabweans, are fleeing KwaZulu-Natal following the violence locals have unleashed on foreigners.
Durban, the province's capital, is the epicentre of the Afrophobic attacks that have claimed at least eight lives and spread to other parts of South Africa.
Ms Ropafadzo Mafudze, a Zimbabwean Mathematics teacher at Msinga Top Combined School in Northern KZN, said: "I could not wait for my principal to give me permission to run away from looming death by savages!
"I hiked to Johannesburg; I only have one life, and I must be afraid of losing it considering that I'm the only bread winner from a family of 12."
The widowed mother of three alleged that district education officers, a majority of them Zulus, had been spreading hate language against foreigners.
A number of Zimbabweans are teaching in Durban and surrounding KZN where their services have largely been hailed in critical subjects such as Maths, Science and Technology.
However, many have not been paid for months, and Ms Mafudze linked this to the Afrophobic tensions.
"As I speak to you right now, all foreign teachers employed in northern KZN have not received their salaries since January.
"We strongly believe King Zwelithini's utterances confirmed what has been secretly planned on the ground.
"Imagine working for four months without a salary.
"I have not paid my children's school fees, yet we teach their children difficult subjects," said a sobbing Ms Mafudze.
Mr Clive Mutugwi, a Computer Science teacher in Mzweni, said he fled KZN a week ago, with the violence that claimed the lives of more than 60 foreigners in South Africa in 2008 still fresh in his memory.
He said he had not been paid since January.
"I saw what happened in 2008 and could not wait for such heinous things to happen to me.
"I'd rather die while escaping," Mr Mutugwi said.
"Things are not all rosy in Zimbabwe, but this time, I'm going back home to be with my family.
"If my relatives are living in peace and harmony in Zimbabwe, then we can always find things to do than live here with killers."
Gauteng South legal counsel Advocate Gabriel Shumba weighed in: "All of us are affected by the pervasive fear that this terror is supposed to instil. We call these acts crimes against humanity, which may escalate to a genocide if nothing is done. The police are sadly part of the problem as they react late, if at all (they do).
"We call upon all countries of the world to show solidarity as we face continued persecution. Failure to pay teachers in KZN and other parts of the country is an act of xenophobia."
On Friday, department of education KZN spokesperson Mr Muzi Mahlambi said most foreign teachers in the province were yet to receive their salaries due to a mix-up in contract renewal.
"Yes, there are reports of unpaid teachers, but the department of education is addressing them. The educators must be paid for their work whether one comes from Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Mlazi," he said.
In an interview with CAJ, South African Democratic Teachers' Union KZN secretary Nomarussia Kaluza hit back: "All workers must be paid for their work. If not, they must register their grievances with us so that we assist."
Durban, the province's capital, is the epicentre of the Afrophobic attacks that have claimed at least eight lives and spread to other parts of South Africa.
Ms Ropafadzo Mafudze, a Zimbabwean Mathematics teacher at Msinga Top Combined School in Northern KZN, said: "I could not wait for my principal to give me permission to run away from looming death by savages!
"I hiked to Johannesburg; I only have one life, and I must be afraid of losing it considering that I'm the only bread winner from a family of 12."
The widowed mother of three alleged that district education officers, a majority of them Zulus, had been spreading hate language against foreigners.
A number of Zimbabweans are teaching in Durban and surrounding KZN where their services have largely been hailed in critical subjects such as Maths, Science and Technology.
However, many have not been paid for months, and Ms Mafudze linked this to the Afrophobic tensions.
"As I speak to you right now, all foreign teachers employed in northern KZN have not received their salaries since January.
"We strongly believe King Zwelithini's utterances confirmed what has been secretly planned on the ground.
"Imagine working for four months without a salary.
"I have not paid my children's school fees, yet we teach their children difficult subjects," said a sobbing Ms Mafudze.
Mr Clive Mutugwi, a Computer Science teacher in Mzweni, said he fled KZN a week ago, with the violence that claimed the lives of more than 60 foreigners in South Africa in 2008 still fresh in his memory.
He said he had not been paid since January.
"I saw what happened in 2008 and could not wait for such heinous things to happen to me.
"I'd rather die while escaping," Mr Mutugwi said.
"Things are not all rosy in Zimbabwe, but this time, I'm going back home to be with my family.
"If my relatives are living in peace and harmony in Zimbabwe, then we can always find things to do than live here with killers."
Gauteng South legal counsel Advocate Gabriel Shumba weighed in: "All of us are affected by the pervasive fear that this terror is supposed to instil. We call these acts crimes against humanity, which may escalate to a genocide if nothing is done. The police are sadly part of the problem as they react late, if at all (they do).
"We call upon all countries of the world to show solidarity as we face continued persecution. Failure to pay teachers in KZN and other parts of the country is an act of xenophobia."
On Friday, department of education KZN spokesperson Mr Muzi Mahlambi said most foreign teachers in the province were yet to receive their salaries due to a mix-up in contract renewal.
"Yes, there are reports of unpaid teachers, but the department of education is addressing them. The educators must be paid for their work whether one comes from Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Mlazi," he said.
In an interview with CAJ, South African Democratic Teachers' Union KZN secretary Nomarussia Kaluza hit back: "All workers must be paid for their work. If not, they must register their grievances with us so that we assist."
Source - CAJ News.
