You should cultivate yourself more about what is happening and has happened in the world, you'll see that plenty of atrocities have hapenned on EVERY single continent, and that the "civilized" West has plenty of blood on its hands...

Jean-Paul, Paris,

Africa as a continent has always responded in violent ways! Rwanda, Kenya etc My boss, from Africa told me that Western democracy will not stabilize Africa. The gap between having nothing and access to all the excesses of a Western lifestyle is what drives African leaders.

Helen, Buckingham, england

Blame it on Apartheid,
They made sure the black community was never educated or free.
Wake up and educate your masses. That’s the only thing that can help them.
Otherwise this is the result of high level of poverty and illiteracy.

This was not brought in by the foreigners. Killing them won’t make you any better.

Johny, Tanga, Tanzania

I'm going to spend one year in SA for my PhD....I've read all your comments on the article and now I'm a little bit scared about the situation. Please reassure me....
Federica

Federica , Conegliano,

Xenophobic attacks are getting worse here in My country (RSA), reports are showing that more than 42 foreigners were killed since the xenophobic attacks outbreak in SA townships. I think it is long over due that the AU, UN & the world should intervene to end these inhumane attacks. What about 2010?

Frans Sello Machate, Pretoria, South Africa

14 years later,no changes,townships,ghettos are still of existence,a shameless goverment is of no example when hiding behind old South Africa infrastructures.There has never been any changes in SA,it is constant upgrading of existing resources if not maintenance.
Poor Mbeki,give up.

G.VAL, johannesburg, south africa

I do feel that they are stealing work from our own people but this behaviour is absurd. But I hope this will give people outside of South Africa an idea of what it is like under the ruling of the ANC. Nobody listens when white South Africans are murdered every day but now everybody has a problem??

Marinda, Pretoria, South Africa

I am a South African who is really fed up with the overall situation in our Country. There is this thing that if you don't get what you want you should turn to violence. The Government does absolutely nothing. At the Home Affairs office in Pretoria, only 65 foreigners get assylum per week.

Marinda, Pretoria, South Africa

This is not racist, it's not apartheid, it's not because of apartheid. This is black against black, it is black against their OWN government. It is blacks starting to feel the aftermath of apartheid not being there anymore. During apartheid they had homes, schools, food, jobs. Now, they have NOTHING

Charlene, Nelspruit, South Africa

By the way, Mrs Snook, I doubt there will be any stadiums (arenas) completed by the time 2010 arrives. The workers go on strike about every 2 weeks about rate increases and we haven't seen one sport stadium even close to being completed. That's the way it is...in South Africa.

Charlene, Nelspruit, South Africa

Why is it so funny to the world that 22 people were killed in a week? I don't get the joke! On average 55 people get killed EVERY day in SA, why is the world not making a fuss about the other 33? Because the other 33 are not worth mentioning because they are white, coloured, indian, chinese, etc.

Charlene, Nelspruit, South Africa

The government knew this was coming, they shouldn't act surprised now that the world's eyes are on them. The immigrants are getting what government promised the South Africans. The whites, coloureds, indians are being killed everyday, yet nothing is said about this. This is our fate in SA.

Charlene, Nelspruit, South Africa

Strange that most of these massacres, genocides are occuring in Africa.

Hamad Lone, London, England

What a tragic turn of events in South Africa. Everyone must be scared stiff now,.

I believe the unusual key to this crisis is FIFA- by saying to the Africans , 'You will lose the hosting of this Football World cup if you do not moderate your behaviour'-- Then they will listen carefully enough

Mrs Maggie Snook, Wareham, Dorset UK

I hope that the Indian community in South Africa take note of the goings on. The Africans have turned on them several times in the past in South Africa & it won't take much to re kindle that hatred again.......be prepared!!

Graham Richards, Brisbane, Australia

From an Apartheid regime to a Xenophobic society.
What a shame. Such a waste of beautiful country.
How safe will the World Cup 2010 be with all this hate and violence?
The mind boggles.

Frank, Lusaka, Zambia

"I am a South African that have seeked refuge in the United States and what a great nation, they will never stoop so low as to set fire to a human being.
Remember UBUNTU!
Dave, Sacramento"

Remember the LA riots at all Dave? Humanity an barbarity rhyme together and know no national borders!

Rowg, London, UK

Peace be among Africans during Africa month. The struggle for justice continues. Mandela –come and be real for us. The tyres are burning and the light they provide can still guide us allow the shining path to freedom. Let uhuru and ubuntu strengthen our people.

Winston Nkomo-Mason, Johannesburg, South Africa

Jody Kollapen talks about calling in the army, what army ? After apartheid the whole military system slowly collapsed due to mismanagement and nepotism to the point that it now consists of top heavy unqualified organisation whose forces are riddled with AIDS.

Louw van Niekerk, Atlantis, South Africa

Mbeki condemns the "shameful and criminal" violence when it happens on South African soil in full view of the world’s media but sees ‘no crisis’ when thousands opposed to Mugabe and his cronies suffers the same shameful and criminal violence in Zimbabwe. How pathetic!

Carl.Anderson, Southampton, England

shame on the world they stopped the rhodesian war in 2 weeks! shame on mbeki, shame on africa, i hope they lose the world cup....who would want to go there...how can black people do this to each other? & the world turns a blind eye cos its not apartheid?? its disgusting how much more ?

gill, sydney, australia

imagine when black south africans fled oppressors in apartheid imagine if the black zimbabweans welcomed them with this ....shame on you south africa

gill, sydney, australia

I have heard that many Indian IT companies do not send any female professionals to SA due to the security issue. I thought this is baseless as T20 world cup and other tournaments concluded without any problem in SA. But, this news and comments show the true picture.

Vitty, Mumbai, India

I think this is horrible and there is no point for this and i am also afraid that this will spread around the world and cause world rascism and many people will be killed because of this and there is no actual point.

Daniel, Reading, UK

J Roberts - What utter nonsense. Despicable acts were happening long before colonialism: It was not a cause or catalyst. What we see now is just a continuation of what has been happening for centuries.

Charlie, Lagos, Nigeria

It is sad.The world once again is watching Zimbabweans die and hated. All this shows how zimbabweans are peace loving people. Zimbabwe once took in foreigners form Mozambique,Zambia and even South Africa but not once where they loathed the way they are loathed.

Sibusisiwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

Has anyone heard a peep from our two great I-CONs re- the multitude of problems facing this "country on auto-pilot", or are they too busy bad-mouthing China, Israel, the West, etc. Or perhaps "overseeing" pop concerts? Or afraid of tarnishing images earned at the coal-face of public opinion?

antonio serafin, cape town, south africa

If i was a Zimbabwean,I would go back home and fight for my right and freedom than dying in a foreign land. For those who are responsible for this killings I can only say "the day will come for you and only God knows what"My request is the world should stop pointing fingers and help,Pray for us?

Ben, jhb, South Africa

I am afraid the old colonial powers of the West are to blame for the mess that it is Africa. If you take a savage, barbaric and tribal society and thrust it 2000 years ahead of its time technologically, culturally and socially the result is what we are seeing every day in many African nations.

J Roberts, Manchester, UK

The Liberal bleeding hearts are in a frenzy now that the truth of African rule stares them in the face so continue blaming apartheid. The locals have nurdered nearly 500 Somalis since 1997 and nearly 3000 White South African farmers since 1994 but not a peep out of the criminal cabal the ANC.

Bill, Johannesburg, South Africa

The horror of the 'new' South Africa must be told. The rampant crime, rape, corruption, reverse black racism and crumbling society is a consequence of failed Marxist policies.

Bill, Johannesburg, South Africa

My fellow South Africans, what are you doing to our foreign brothers and sisters? Remember that they gave our own brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, leaders etc. refuge during the South African apartheid era. They (foreigners) shared their food, shelter, clothing, jobs, & other services with us.

Frans Sello Machate, Pretoria, South Africa

It's a shame the poor always pay the price. The South African Gvtment have systematically failed to control crime.With the loss of talent like Lucky Dube it goes without saying a Capable President is needed.Which I dont see happening in the near future

Petros , Manchester, UK

This situation is a direct result of Mr "Crisis? What crisis?" Mbeki's policies on Zimbabwe. The Zimbos are between a rock and a hard place and would gladly return to Zim if it was anything like normal. Replace Mbeki with someone who can LEAD and the situation will sort itself out.

David Ashton, Bathurst, Australia

So very sad. Don't forget what those very same Zimbabweans did for you during the apartheid struggle.
I am a South African that have seeked refuge in the United States and what a great nation, they will never stoop so low as to set fire to a human being.
Remember UBUNTU!

Dave, Sacramento,

Not all of South Africa is 'in shock ' of course. After this had been building into a crisis all week, the South African Sunday Times chose to splash their front page with a 'story' about triplets born to two fathers.

David Short, London, UK

Regarding the current violence crisis in South Africa.

As a 28 year old ,South African born, , I would just like to say, from the bottom of my heart, I honestly wish, that the news regarding the latest violence crisis in south Africa, would be broadcasted over the airwaves, with more discretion.

Frankie, Cape Town, SA

As a generation, born in the apartheid era, ( ONLY BORN and had nothing to do with) but growing up, during the great change, and having to live with a new south Africa, it breaks my heart to see the world, constantly, using the word ‘Apartheid’ whenever, something goes wrong in south Africa.

Frankie, Cape Town, SA

As it is clear that the current violence has absolutely nothing to do with apartheid, was it truly necessary to remind us all, all over again, about a time in South Africa, that none of my generation would like to remember, anyway. Of course it happened, and we have to live with the consequences.

Frankie, Cape Town, SA

How dare the world and all the news agencies, have the audacity and arrogance, to compare it with’ that’ time, we ALL hate. Call me stupid, but should the news not perhaps, attack the government, police, illegal immigrants, squatter camps, hate mentality, or whatever the real cause may be?

Frankie, Cape Town, SA

People’s personal feelings are perhaps not high on the priority list, considering all this chaos around the world, but perhaps, the news agencies could start blaming global warming, earthquakes and cyclones on their real cause, and attempt to stop blaming the world’s financial crisis on apartheid.

Frankie, Cape Town, SA

Just another normal day in the New South Africa. 87 people a day killed illegally on average, many, many more than in the days of Apartheid. So sad. I lived there for 24 years until we escaped after five years of the ANC's rule as we could see where it was going and it will get far worse yet.

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

The ANC taught violence to the people as a political tool - thus it 'flares up' every election as part of the rigging. This unrest is probably orchestrated by ANC street committees, hence the 'muted' response.

This will invariably spill over into the 2010 world cup. Stay home!

Nicko, Cape Town,

I was in SA a few weeks ago and could sense the tension. I am sympathetic to the foreigners but resources are tight in SA, allowing 3m desperate Zimbabweans to compete for scarce jobs and housing is not the best policy. From apartheid to polyglot globalisation is a raw deal.

Winston McSmith, Edinburgh, Scotland

On May 13, a U.S. Federal court ruled that victims of apartheid can sue multinational coporations for compensation if they can prove that the leadership of these companies knew they were directly contributing to supporting apartheid policies-
6 days later, this is not the response I was expecting

Scott Benowitz, Rye, New York, U.S.A.

As a south African we had enough of Zimbabweans, however i do not support the violance that took place over the weekend. The crime rate in our locations have sky rocketed. RDP houses meant for S.Africans are occupied / given to them by corrupt goverment officails. ANC does nothing about it

Max, Johannesburg, SouthAfrica

South Africa understandably had a bad image during the years of white minority rule, but I wonder if one day people will be looking back to that time as the 'good old days'. I suspect people in Zimbawe already are!

Andrew Brown , derby, uk

I visited SA before Christmas and had a wonderful time staying with Afrikaans families. However it was obvious after travelling through several states just how much of a tinderbox the situation is, racial & sectarian intolerance was rife everywhere.
Very beautiful country, very sad situation.

Dave, Gibraltar,

South Africa shows its true racist colours, but the world will turn a blind eye.

"40% worse off than under apartheid" - what hope is there for the poor if South Africa continues to go backwards.

Richard K, Nottingham,

There is no way anyone can put blame on South Africa for all of this. South Africans have had their share of suffering under a brutal regime. They fought, were killed and deprived. Why are Zimbambwens killing one another in their own country?. . Malawians and Mozambicans are free to go back home.

Susan, Pretoria,

"No crisis" Mbeki bears the full blunt for this fiasco. He has supported Mugabe and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Instead of taking action and protecting victims of violence, he has set up a committee to investigate the causes of the violence.thought causes were clear. What a President?

Mugochi, Masvingo, Zimbabwe

According to Panorama, about 50 murders a day take place in that country.

An extra 13 won't make much of a difference to their rankings in the countries with the highest murder rates on earth.

John, London,

Having lived in RAS for 30 years all I can say is this:

Misdirected fury!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

40% worse off now- worse than apartheid- and I am NOT defeding it in any way

Gov, and Mbeki to blame

Jose, Lisboa, Portugal

I blame the government of South Africa for this. They care about no-one else other than the elite of the country (meaning themselves). They would rather pocket millions (or billions) of dollars rather than help the refugees in the country, let alone their own people.

R Jacobs, Brisbane,

The way the ANC run the country there'll be white majority rule in about 20 years.

Rob, Auckland, NZ

i think the south afriacn govenment has its work cut out for it if it wants to clean up its inamge as a violent country before the 2010 2world cup good luck to them ..

m bloggs , more town, slavinia