CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg has forbidden Catholics in his archdiocese to be involved in attacks against foreigners that have left more than 20 people dead and dozens injured. "Everyone who takes a step in a march in a township to protest ‘foreigners’ is taking a step closer to hell," said Archbishop Tlhagale, president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, in a May 15 statement.
Noting that the Ten Commandments "extend to our treatment of foreigners," Archbishop Tlhagale said "attacks on those who were not born in South Africa are a cause of real shame and concern."
Up to 1,000 people are seeking shelter at police stations in Alexandra, a township in northern Johannesburg, where the violence began May 11 following a community meeting to address social problems in the area, reported the U.N.’s IRIN news agency. The attacks occurred mostly in townships in Gauteng province, which includes Johannesburg.
"I forbid any Catholic in this archdiocese from assisting these unruly people or approving of their behavior. I call on the Catholics and people of good will in Alexandra to be the first to come to the aid of their neighbors who have been so ill-treated," said Archbishop Tlhagale.
In one incident, two Zimbabweans and a South African were killed when a mob, accusing them of stealing jobs, burned shacks belonging to Zimbabweans and Malawians.
Many Zimbabweans have lost the few belongings they brought with them from homes when they fled the violence there. They have been separated from family members in the current mayhem and many are seeking refuge in churches around Gauteng.
Police said May 19 that nearly 220 people have been arrested for the attacks.
The commandment "’You shall not kill’ stands in condemnation of the actions of the South African mob which is running amok," he said, noting that there have been more than 15 incidents of violence against foreigners in South Africa in the last five months.
"It also means that the statement ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods’ stands in condemnation of those thugs who, out of envy, attack others who have the skills and industry to get jobs," he said.
Up to 3 million Zimbabweans are estimated to have fled to South Africa to escape violence, severe shortages of basic commodities and 80 percent unemployment.
Ten million people are estimated to have come to South Africa seeking a better life since apartheid ended in 1994.
A "new apartheid mentality is killing our country and our dignity," Archbishop Tlhagale said, noting that "no one has the right to remove our God-given dignity and our human rights."
Human rights "are part of our basic human dignity, given by God," he said, noting that "God creates us all equal and creates us all for community. God does not have borders."
The archbishop called on the police "to enforce the human rights guaranteed in our constitution for all human beings," noting that "this is a guarantee of rights of which our country is justly proud."
He called on "the victims of this violence to forgive us for our sins."
Analysts say that unemployment in South Africa’s townships — up to 50 percent in some places — and widespread poverty help to fuel xenophobia.