Amnesty-SA: ‘Culture of impunity must be stopped’

The attacks against refugees‚ migrants and their businesses in Durban area have triggered some action from government officials‚ but “the prevailing culture of impunity must be stopped”‚ says Amnesty International.

In a statement released on Tuesday‚ the human rights movement said it has “repeatedly appealed to the South African government…to develop a systematic plan involving the police and other agencies to prevent and protect refugees from targeted attacks”.

Amnesty International-South Africa’s Sicel’mpilo Shange-Buthane said: “We acknowledge that the police are conducting arrests. However‚ the authorities must launch full‚ transparent and independent investigations‚ and bring suspected perpetrators to account.”

Shange-Buthane took issue with ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe’s reported statements that there was a need for refugee camps‚ saying: “In our view‚ this turns the problem on its head‚ undermines South Africa’s integration model for refugee protection and may inadvertently encourage further attacks against them.”

Local government‚ Amnesty said‚ also has a responsibility to address the current tensions‚ explaining that “all levels of government bear a responsibility to fulfil South Africa’s obligation to ensure the constitutional right for all to be free from all forms of violence from either public or private sources‚ without discrimination”.