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Zimbabweans sue Zuma over xenophobia
29 Apr 2015 at 09:17hrs | Views
The Black Business Forum Zimbabwe (BBFZ) and the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) have filed an urgent High Court application in South Africa over President Jacob Zuma's administration's failure to declare a state of emergency in xenophobic hot spots as dictated by South Africa laws.
The applicants say they have made the urgent application in the wake of massive displacements, killings and loss of limbs and properties of black Zimbabweans and other foreign nationals resident in South Africa.
The two pressure groups have cited South Africa's president as the first respondent, the Minister of Home Affairs as the second respondent and the Minister of Foreign Affairs as the third respondent.
The two Zimbabwe pressure groups say President Zuma must declare a state of emergency in the xenophobic hot spots in terms of the State of Emergency Act 64 of 1997.
According to the application, the applicants have called for the arrest of all those implicated in the commission of xenophobic attacks, including King Goodwill Zwelithini and Edward Zuma.
As part of the demands, the applicants have argued that the President of South Africa, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Police in co-operation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs jointly put in place effective mechanisms and structures to stop the xenophobic attacks.
The pressure groups have also highlighted in their application that jointly with parliament, the Department of Home Affairs takes all necessary measures to prevent the violation and encroachment of the benefits held by foreign permit holders.
The urgent court application comes at a time South African President Zuma is expected to brief the SADC leaders on developments in South Africa and steps being taken by his government to deal with the crisis.
The applicants say they have made the urgent application in the wake of massive displacements, killings and loss of limbs and properties of black Zimbabweans and other foreign nationals resident in South Africa.
The two pressure groups have cited South Africa's president as the first respondent, the Minister of Home Affairs as the second respondent and the Minister of Foreign Affairs as the third respondent.
The two Zimbabwe pressure groups say President Zuma must declare a state of emergency in the xenophobic hot spots in terms of the State of Emergency Act 64 of 1997.
As part of the demands, the applicants have argued that the President of South Africa, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Police in co-operation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs jointly put in place effective mechanisms and structures to stop the xenophobic attacks.
The pressure groups have also highlighted in their application that jointly with parliament, the Department of Home Affairs takes all necessary measures to prevent the violation and encroachment of the benefits held by foreign permit holders.
The urgent court application comes at a time South African President Zuma is expected to brief the SADC leaders on developments in South Africa and steps being taken by his government to deal with the crisis.
Source - zbc
