XENOPHOBIA - SATAN IN HUMAN FORM

By Victor Nyakey

This is truly the year of need in South Africa. This beautiful "Rainbow Nation" in Africa is rich in economy and culture. But what she needs urgently is Jesus.

I have come to realize that in this life no one wakes up from bed in the morning and starts thinking of how to attack and kill the neighbours, unless the person is ruled by some forces. I believe there are some evil forces behind these barbaric xenophobic attacks.

Foreign black nationals are being killed and some burnt alive. A South African school girl who was in a foreign owned shop to buy some groceries lost her life when a posse of South African black nationals attacked and looted the shop at Umlazi in Durban. But this is not the only South African citizen who died in the widespread xenophobia.

Foreign shop owners in Durban City Centre and Eastern Johannesburg have also armed themselves to resist the attacks.

South African President Jacob Zuma, appealed for calm as the wave of anti-immigrant violence spread to Johannesburg, raising fears the country's dire economic woes could spark widespread unrest.

Thousands converged in the Durban CBD to stand in solidarity against xenophobic attacks on Thursday April 16, 2015. The movement was led by Durban mayor James Nxumalo, KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu and leaders of various organizations' in light of the attacks that have taken place in Ntuzuma, Umlazi, KwaMashu and most recently Verulam, Pietermaritzburg and the Durban CBD.

Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, the reigning king of the Zulu nation, whose earlier remarks civil society organisations have blamed hugely for what is now termed AFROPHOBIA that foreigners living in SA should return to their home countries is set to hold 'Imbizo' against the xenophobic attack. According to some government officials, King Zwelithini is not happy that foreign black nationals are being chased out of their homes, killed and burnt alive.

Some religious and humanitarian organisations including Dwell Church and Gift of The Givers have been doing a lot by providing food and clothing to foreigners who fled their homes and are currently living in makeshift tents under police protection.

Umlazi is a township on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, located south-west of Durban. It is the third largest township in South Africa, after Soweto and Tembisa. The township is the only township in the country that has its own registration plate, which is NUZ. Umlazi is divided into 26 sections, A through to Z, with the exception of I,O and X, but with an addition of AA, BB and CC. It is an area dominated by black South Africans. It is a no-go area for white people. This is where most foreigners, mostly Somalians, Ethiopians, Malawians, Mozambicans and Zimbabweans were attacked.

According to the attackers, the high unemployment rate in South Africa is caused by the influx of foreigners whom they accused of stealing their jobs. But sadly, the victims of this ferocious xenophobia are foreigners who fend for themselves - they established barbering and cobbler shops, hairdressing salons, as well as tuck shops that sell groceries.

The irony is that the beneficiaries of such foreign investments are largely locals, who patronize these services and some end up working in those shops as salesclerks. These foreign shop owners do not only undoubtedly create wealth and employment, they also pay taxes, rather than dissipate South Africa's resources, as others are alleging.

At least six people have been killed, scores injured and over 2000 displaced. Remember, there was Xenophobia in 2008 that claimed lives of foreigners.

Who is behind this? That is why I am drawing conclusion that there are evil forces finding jobs for some idle hands to perpetrate heinous crimes in the history of South Africa.

I am therefore calling on all prayerful people across the world to intercede for God to restore peace. What is happening here South Africa is ill-starred and obnoxious.

If it is not happening in your country does not mean it cannot happen at all.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

God bless you all!
(The author is a Ghanaian living in Durban, South Africa: [email protected])

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