Whoonga Park attacks not xenophobic, says hostel
Dalton Hostel chairman has vehemently denied Monday night's attack was fuelled by xenophobia.
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THE attacks on Whoonga Park residents allegedly by residents of Dalton Hostel on Monday night were not fuelled by xenophobia. Dalton Hostel chairman, Mthembiseni Thusi and committee members said in a media statement on Wednesday that they were extremely concerned by allegations and rumours circulating via social media, that the incident has been labelled a xenophobic attack.
“Although details surrounding this incident are not entirely clear, Dalton Hostel leaders wish to emphasise that the incident that took place on Monday 10 June was in no way related to xenophobic tension between hostel residents and homeless members of the immigrant community who have recently migrated from Whoonga Park to Botha’s Gardens.
“We strongly condemn all statements and accusations to this effect that are currently being circulated by the public as extremely irresponsible and ill-informed,”” he said.
“We wish to place on record that since the 2008 outbreak of xenophobic violence which involved several Dalton Hostel dwellers, we have gone to great lengths to ensure such incidents never happen again.
“Many workshops, meetings and prayer rallies have been held by the hostel to promote peace and inter-cultural tolerance and resolve conflict. Members of immigrant communities frequent, and are at all times welcome, at Dalton Hostel.
“It is most unfortunate and concerning that incidents relating purely to crime are now being misrepresented and distorted by individuals who are ignorant of the situation on the ground.”
He said Dalton Hostel leadership had since 2010, urged the SAPS, Metro Police and eThekwini Municipality to address the scourge of the drug whoonga and the large number of homeless people and criminals who had for years lived at nearby Albert Park and under the freeway.
“What began as a few people who were addicted to whoonga, now number nearly 1000,” he said, adding that the recent ‘Clean Up Durban’ campaigns had resulted in this group fleeing regularly from police raids into the hostel and surrounding suburbs.
“Our children are increasingly enticed to begin using this drug and our residents are frequently threatened or robbed to buy drugs. The severe socioeconomic challenges facing hostel dwellers are being worsened by these issues,” he said.
He said since the city had moved this group to Botha’s Park, the existing problems of crime and substance abuse in the area had increased dramatically.
“Numerous complaints have also been raised by local businesses and the Glenwood community. It is therefore extremely disappointing that these crime issues should now suddenly be termed ‘xenophobic’ merely because they allegedly involve hostel residents.
“To do so is deeply divisive, irresponsible and does nothing towards building a united society where we may all work together to address social ills such as poverty, homelessness and substance abuse or assist our brothers and sisters from the rest of Africa. Such inflammatory allegations could ignite real hostilities as well as undermine hostel youth upliftment projects,” he said.
He said a meeting would be held with the media this week where they would be briefed on the history, facts and current circumstances regarding the incident which occurred on Monday night, as well as the broader issues surrounding Whoonga Park, the surge in crime, and the drug that was killing people.
“We reiterate, this was not a xenophobic attack, but a matter of crime and failed service delivery,” he said.
