Xenophobic attitudes not a reflection of South African values

Xenophobic attitudes not a reflection of South African values
By Daisy Melwani


South Africa has denounced the recent acts of xenophobia in the country, and urged travellers not to take the African nation off their travel list.

The recent spates of violence saw five people killed, including three South Africans, and resulted in Australia, among others such as England and China, issuing travel warnings to potential visitors.

But according to South African Tourism’s CEO Thulani Nzima, the xenophobic attitudes do not reflect the country’s own values.

“This was not South Africa,” he told Travel Weekly at the INDABA 2015 trade show.

“There was a small number who spoiled it for everyone else. It was a sporadic incident, and contained completely.”

Nzima said that the issues do, however, need to be addressed in both the short and long term.

“In the short term, we need to give buyers and exhibitors reassurance of safety,” he told Travel Weekly.

Nzima also said that in the long scheme of things, changes and rebranding need to be addressed in order to reinforce the core values of South Africa, such as compassion and friendliness.

“We also need to deal with the deep-seated issues and causes of all of this,” he added.

The South African Minister for Tourism Derek Hanekom had a similar viewpoint when he addressed INDABA delegates at the Opening Ceremony on Saturday May 9.

“We are united in denouncing the spate of recent attacks on foreign nationals living in our country,” Hanekom said.

“These deplorable incidents of violence do not reflect who we are as a nation, or who we are as a continent.

“Thanks to the swift and decisive action of our government, and the support of the overwhelming majority of our people who respect human rights, the divisive intentions of those behind these attacks have been neutralized.

“We have also begun the work of addressing the underlying causes of the violence. South Africa will never allow the criminal actions of a few to derail the togetherness forged by the vast majority of our people in the past two decades of our democracy.

“We are determined that our country will always be open to welcome people from around the world.”

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

south africa

Latest News

  • Cruise

P&O rescues Rotary volunteers after collapse of Air Vanuatu

P&O Cruises Australia has answered a plea for help from a group of young Australian Rotary volunteers, stranded in Vanuatu following the collapse of Air Vanuatu. The students, many of them teenagers from Albury, NSW, were volunteering for a youth project run by the Hive Rotary Club Australia when the airline abruptly cancelled all flights, […]

  • Destinations

Intrepid continues expansions with launch of first DMC in Jordan

Intrepid has increased its presence in the Middle East with the opening of its first destination management company in Jordan. Based in Amman, the local team will operate Intrepid’s range of nine experiential small group tours in Jordan from this summer, with a view to expanding the range for 2025 and beyond. Zina Bencheikh, managing […]

  • Appointments

Minor hotels appoints Puneet Dhawan to key Asia role

Global hotel owner and operator Minor Hotels has appointed Puneet Dhawan as head of Asia as the group plots its growth in Asia and India. From July, Dhawan will be responsible for the performance of all Minor Hotels properties in Asia, working in close collaboration with the Minor Hotels senior leadership team and will report […]

  • Appointments

Abercrombie & Kent and Crystal appoint Evon Ler to director of sales, Asia

Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group have announced that Evon Ler will join them in the new role of director of sales, Asia. She will work closely with Tony Archbold (VP, Sales, APAC, Crystal) and Susan Haberle (VP, Sales & Partnerships, APAC, A&K) with trade support across the region. Ler comes to the A&K family with more […]