Former president Thabo Mbeki made a promise to the world in July 2008.
He was speaking at a memorial service for 63 people killed in xenophobic violence that had engulfed South Africa.
Offering an apology on behalf of South Africans, Mbeki decried the fact that we allowed criminal in our midst to inflict terrible pain and damage to many in our society, including, and particularly, our foreign guests.
We will do everything possible and necessary to ensure that we have no need in future to proffer this humble apology, which is inspired by genuine remorse, he said.
Since Mbeki made that promise, xenophobic attacks have continued unabated in South Africa.
From Kagiso central, attacks on spaza shops spread to Kagiso Extension 12, to Sinqobile, to Swanieville and Rietvallei Extension 2 and 3. Mobs have unleashed terror on foreign nationals. Most of the victims have been foreigners trading in the townships. The causes have been varied – sometimes in retaliation for a foreigner mistreating locals, a rumour linking a foreigner to a crime and even romantic jealousy.
Service-delivery protests have been used as an excuse to loot foreign-owned shops.
Some residents blamed foreign shop owners for failing to contribute to the development of locals by creating job opportunities to help the local youths.
Many of the rioters were teenagers and it seemed that the whole scene was a game for them as they looted shops, smashed windows and ran to hide laughing when police arrived.
A 13-month-old baby was trampled to death by looters in Rietvallei.
Shame on you! How are you going to raise your children when you show them how to steal?
Parents, when your child brings stolen goods into your house, what are you saying?
The chaos was sparked by the death of 14-year-old teenager Siphiwe Mahori. A group then attacked a shop in the area. Chief Mogale Community Forum vowed to defend the foreign shop owners with their own lives, accusing the teenagers driving the chaotic scenes in their area of being high on nyaope, a white powdery street drug.
