South Africa: Interesting Insight

South Africa is in trouble. 

The country's President Thabo Mbeki said over the weekend that the violence against immigrants in the country is the worst South Africa has experienced since apartheid.

56 are dead.  More than 650 injured.  Tens of thousands have been displaced.

And yet, SA's safety and security minister says everything is "under control."  Hmmm...right.

Now, thousands of Zimbabweans living in South Africa are heading for Zambia, Botswana and Mozambique seeking asylum.

My friend and fellow journalist, Melody, from Cape Town, South Africa wrote me recently with some good insight in to the violence.  The Associated Press reports more than 10,000 people in that city spent the weekend in churches and community centers.  Melody writes...

In Cape Town, some stall holders and street side vendors have packed up out of fear. Refugees are being helped by local business, the communities and government.

What concerns me the most is that the voice of the masses are not being heard. The attacks are carrying on and are being condemned but we are not listening to reason. The people living in townships are so poor, most of them still use the bucket system. People walk to fetch water. The government just can't deliver on their promises and it is understandable. The poor however is getting poorer and bread prices have sky rocketed. People who live in townships pay up to a third or more of their salaries just to get to work. They are frustrated and jobless.

The foreigners are taking work away from our people. This is how they feel. I think the government should also turn to these people and offer a helping hand. At the moment the finger is being wagged at the general population in the townships, South Africans, with no money and now no dignity in the eye of the international press. I am not saying violence is the answer, but we need to help the poor in this country.

Kaybee from Botswana:

Its really heart rending to see fellow Africans killing each other at this crucial times when Zimbabweans really need support. What we should understand is that in any given situations there are the innocent and the guilty. With the Zimbabwe scene the masses have played their part in voting but the powers that be are the ones at fault.

So we should give those who are looking for life elsewhere a chance to put food on their table and a right to live, I do know that crime has escalated with the influx of Zimbabweans into our countries but the truth is that our people are also using them as an excuse to commit crime knowing that they will take the blame so I think we should open our eyes and try to uproot that evil but not by killing each other.

Where is our compassion people? We are known to be brothers. Isn't it time we show that brotherhood?

Do you live in South Africa?  Have any first hand accounts of the violence?  Please send me an e-mail with your experiences.