IFP MEDIA STATEMENT BY: 
MR BEN SKOSANA MP
IFP SPOKESPERSON ON INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

17th April 2008

The President of South Africa, Mr Thabo Mbeki, the President of the ANC, Mr Jacob Zuma, all leaders of the political parties in this country and all religious leaders must now raise their strong voices against Xenophobia, which is running amok in this country. 

The IFP believes that people of goodwill must not remain silent while innocent men, women, and children are being hunted down like animals for taking refuge in our country. 

Furthermore, the IFP believes it is grossly inhuman to persecute these people for escaping the political and economic conditions that are beyond their control and not of their own doing. 

Whether their status as refugees is political or economic, it is for the government to decide and whether some of them are involved in criminal activities, as is usually alleged, it is for the law of this country to take action against those who are involved. 

The most horrid and human tragedy that apartheid has imprinted on the lives of black South Africans is self-hate. It has left our people with a vicious streak of vindictiveness against our own. 

This is perpetuated by the constant feeling of limited freedom and economic powerlessness. And it is only black people in this country that can put an end to this social monstrosity.