The SAHRC is of the view that statements such as this have the potential of fueling anti-immigrant sentiments and is in fact xenophobic. South Africa is already grappling with the scourge of violent xenophobic attacks, often directed against fellow African non-nationals. As a figure of authority in the Department of Police - and by extension across society - the Deputy Minister is expected to exercise a great deal of circumspection in his public utterances. Not only are the statements factually incorrect, (in that he claims, without evidence to the effect, that "80% of the city is occupied by foreign nationals), they also unjustifiably ascribe crime to foreign nationals as an undifferentiated group.

Source: All Africa