SAJBD outraged over targeting of foreigners

The recent attacks against foreign nationals and their property in Gauteng are shameful and outrageous. Scores of innocent people who came to our country in the hope of making better lives for themselves have been deprived of their livelihoods simply because they were born elsewhere.  

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) condemns these repugnant attacks. It further calls on the authorities to do all they can to ensure the safety of those who have suffered and to call to account those guilty of participating in the attacks that have deprived them of their hard-earned livelihoods.  

Despite attempts to characterise these xenophobic attacks as criminal in nature they are clearly hate crimes, and must be treated as such. 

The SAJBD has issued an appeal to the Jewish community to contribute to a fund it is setting up to assist the victims of these xenophobic attacks. There was a very generous response to the appeal it put out during the last major period of xenophobic violence, in 2008. It is hoped that a similar response will help to ease the plight of those who have suffered this time round, and help them to rebuild their lives.

Statement issued by Charisse Zeifert, Head: Communications, South African Jewish Board of Deputies, January 26 2015

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