{"id":87802,"date":"2015-04-24T08:15:00","date_gmt":"2015-04-24T06:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/87802\/deputy-minister-of-defence-and-military-veterans-speaks-to-the-victims-of-xenophobia\/"},"modified":"2015-05-07T09:26:31","modified_gmt":"2015-05-07T07:26:31","slug":"deputy-minister-of-defence-and-military-veterans-speaks-to-the-victims-of-xenophobia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2015\/04\/24\/deputy-minister-of-defence-and-military-veterans-speaks-to-the-victims-of-xenophobia\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018We have our freedom because of your support\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kebby Maphatsoe, Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, visited the victims of xenophobic attacks, who are being housed in the camp set up in front of the Primrose Police Station, on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

The Minister also visited the Primrose Methodist Church, where Past Paul du Plessis, of the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) gave him a tour.<\/p>

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The Primrose Methodist Church and AFM have joined forces to offer relief to those driven from their homes in the local informal settlements during the recent xenophobic attacks.<\/p>\n

The Minister walked through the camp, where he later addressed the people housed there.<\/p>

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\u201cI am visiting on behalf of the South African government,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe condemn what happened last week, it must never never happen again.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of us who are here were accommodated by yourselves in your countries.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were able to get our freedom because of your support.\u201d<\/p>\n

He went on to share a story of the support shown by the Mozambicans to South Africans during the struggle for freedom.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot once did you say: ‘Go away from our country’.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou always said: ‘We will protect you until you achieve your freedom’,\u201d Maphatsoe said.<\/p>\n

He believes that the reason these attacks continue is because people do not know and\/or realise the role that African countries played in South Africa\u2019s struggle.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe, as military veterans, have planned to start a programme, which aims to educate our people on the role foreign nationals played in South Africa\u2019s struggle,” he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they understand that, they will regret what they have done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maphatsoe praised the SAPS for their hard work during this difficult time, and offered his support and the support of military veterans throughout South Africa to the SAPS.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people doing this to you are criminal, and must be arrested,” he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCriminals are criminals, nothing else.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is no longer xenophobia, it is criminal, and we will make sure that those who attack foreign nationals are arrested and face the full might of the law.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maphatsoe shared the metro\u2019s plans to reintroduce foreign nationals back into the communities from which they came.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe South Africa government is taking a hands-on approach to handling this problem, and the South African defence force’s support of the SAPS shows just how serious we are,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In closing, Maphatsoe expressed his condolence to those who have lost loved ones in this difficult time.<\/p>\n

Related articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Foreign nationals flock to tented camp seeking refuge.<\/a><\/p>\n