Herman Mashaba helen zille resign

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 23: City of Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba during the Democratic Alliance (DA) manifesto launch at the Rand Stadium on February 23, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The DA launched its manifesto ahead of the 2019 national elections set to take place on May 08, 2019. (Photo by Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Deaan Vivier)

Xenophobic violence: Herman Mashaba says “there is no need to apologise”

Herman Mashaba’s take on the xenophobic violence that has gripped Gauteng is certainly… less diplomatic… than what we’ve seen from elsewhere.

Herman Mashaba helen zille resign

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 23: City of Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba during the Democratic Alliance (DA) manifesto launch at the Rand Stadium on February 23, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The DA launched its manifesto ahead of the 2019 national elections set to take place on May 08, 2019. (Photo by Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Deaan Vivier)

Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba may be kicking a hornet’s nest on this issue. The DA representative is known for his hardline stance on immigration, and during an interview with CNBC Africa on Tuesday evening, he refused to compromise his principles after a wave of xenophobic violence hit South Africa.

Xenophobic violence in South Africa

A total of 12 people have been killed in multiple protests across Gauteng. Ten of the victims were actually South Africans. The lunacy of the demonstrations has been widely condemned in all political circles, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to issue an apology to our continental friends.

The likes of Nigeria, Zambia and DR Congo have hosted their own protests fuelled by anti-South African sentiment. SA embassies have been vandalised in foreign countries, and overseas branches of Mr Price and Shoprite have been targeted in “revenge attacks”. The old Cyril charm has been in full swing this week, as he looks to quell the tensions.

Herman Mashaba talks tough on recent violence

But if Ramaphosa is looking to dampen the flames, Herman Mashaba’s brazen stance may add more fuel to the fire. He told the interviewer that an apology to our diplomatic neighbours ‘was not necessary’. Instead, he implored the president to focus on matters closer to home.

Mayor Mashaba insisted that the 10 million unemployed citizens of South Africa and the girls who end up getting sex-trafficked should be first in line for an apology:

“There is nothing to apologise for. We have a responsibility to get the president and Home Affairs to do something [about immigration]. What would anyone want me to apologise for? … The country owes an official apology to thousands, if not millions of our young girls who are turned into forced prostitution by international drug syndicates.”

“We are not going to turn a blind eye on such evil crime happening under our watch. The country also owes an official apology to the 10.2 million unemployed South Africans who are today without jobs as a result of billions of counterfeit goods being brought illegally into the country, killing local manufacturing.”

Herman Mashaba

Watch Herman Mashaba talk about Xenophobic attacks here

It’s still early days, but the fallout from Herman Mashaba’s unflinching take on the situation could upset the applecart of peace. Never one for mincing his words, the Mayor continues to stick to his guns on this topic: