Refugees, xenophobia in SA top agenda for Western Govts - Ambassador Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele

The attacks on foreigners in South Africa that took place last year have been widely criticised by other African governments with the Nigerian government taking the unusual step of repatriating 600 citizens after it led to tensions between the two countries. Xenophobia and refugees are the issues that South Africa’s ambassador in Switzerland, Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele says foreign governments most often question her about. Biznews ran into the ambassador where she was waiting for the arrival of the Minister of International Relations, Naledi Pandor at Zurich Airport. Referring to the World Economic Forum in Davos, she said that South Africa wanted to take the opportunity of assuring foreign investors that the Government is tackling the issue of growth and Eskom. - Linda van Tilburg