The SA Human Rights
Commission has received a request from the DA to investigate comments made by
Small Business Minister Lindiwe Zulu about foreigners, it said on Tuesday.
"We
are currently assessing the matter with a view to investigate," commission
spokesman Isaac Mangena said.
"The
assessment will tell us if we are the correct institution to deal with the
matter or not."
On
Monday, the Democratic Alliance said it was lodging a complaint against Zulu
for what it said were xenophobic comments.
Last
week, Zulu told Business Day that foreign business owners in South Africa's
townships could not expect to co-exist peacefully with local business owners
unless they shared their trade secrets.
"Foreigners
need to understand that they are here as a courtesy and our priority is to the
people of this country first and foremost," she was quoted as saying.
"A
platform is needed for business owners to communicate and share ideas. They
cannot barricade themselves in and not share their practices with local
business owners."
The
comments were in response to looting and attacks on foreign shopowners in
Soweto.
DA
MP Toby Chance claimed Zulu's comments "fuelled the wedge" that
already existed between locals and foreigners.
"Our
Constitution is clear on this matter -- everyone has the right to freedom and
security of person, which includes the right to be free from all forms of
violence from either public or private sources.
"The right to security
of person is not a conditional right as minister Zulu states," Chance
said.
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