Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,has condemned the latest wave of xenophobic violence in South Africa, describing it as a tragic betrayal of the country’s historic struggle for freedom and justice.
In a statement posted on social media, Tedros said he was deeply saddened by reports of renewed attacks targeting foreign nationals, which had reportedly left several people dead, displaced thousands of families and forced many others to flee for safety.
“It is profoundly heartbreaking to witness another surge of xenophobic violence in South Africa this week,” he said. According to him, hundreds of people have marched on Parliament amid the unrest, while thousands of families have been displaced.
He recalled the support African nations gave South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle,stressing that the continent stood together in the fight against racial oppression. The WHO chief highlighted Ethiopia’s historical support for the late former South African President, Nelson Mandela, noting that Ethiopia issued Mandela a passport in 1962 to enable him to travel across Africa during the liberation struggle.
He added that several other African countries also provided political, diplomatic and financial support to the anti-apartheid movement.
