Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini is urging South Africans to stop the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in the country.
Speaking at a crowded stadium in Durban, he refuted reports that he sparked the violence, BBC reports. There were widespread reports that alleged that Zwelithini has said “foreigners should go back to their countries,” however; he says his words were taken out of context and manipulated.
“We need to make sure no more foreigners are attacked…If it were true that I said foreigners must go, this country would be up in flames,” he said.
South African President Jacob Zuma has also condemned the attacks, saying they “go against everything we believe in”.
According to reports, “with the unemployment rate at 24%, many South Africans accuse foreign nationals of taking jobs from locals.”
So far, over 300 people have been arrested in connection with the attacks.
