Malawian Refugees Flee Hostility in South Africa

CHAN:
Malawians who fled to South Africa to escape the violence and poverty of their home country are now fleeing in the opposite direction. THis is after many instances of anti-Malawian violence in South Africa. Here's more:

NARRATED:
South Africa has been a popular destination for Malawians to live and
work.
Now they are heading for home in large numbers, fleeing the wave of
anti-migrant bloodshed in South Africa that's claimed the lives of at least 50
African foreigners.
Some now back in Malawi say they were lucky to get away at all.
SOUNDBITE: George Tambani, Malawian returnee, saying (Chichewa):
"I ran away and slept in a bush. But when I went back to report
for work an angry mob attacked me. I managed to escape but they stabbed me. 
They failed to kill me but they hit me over the head with a club and beat me
all over my body."
Malawi's government says it plans to lay on buses to ferry its endangered,
stranded citizens out of South Africa.
The violence has shocked many Malawians.
SOUNDBITE: Emmanuel Kaliyeka, Malawian citizen, saying (English):
"What's happening in South Africa so far is really
inhuman."
SOUNDBITE: Ndaona Chauluka, Malawian citizen, saying (English):
"If my country decides today to chase South Africans what going to
happen next? We're going to cause a war. We don't need that."
Over the weekend protesters have been on the march in Johannesburg to
demand an end to the violence.
South Africa's ruling ANC has been holding meetings and rallies also urging
a halt.
The ANC government is being accused of responding too slowly to the
anti-migrant backlash which erupted two weeks ago, and for failing to tackle
the poverty widely blamed for igniting it.

Category:

News & Politics

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• Malawian
• Refugees
• Flee
• Hostility
• in
• South
• Africa
• news