Tzu Chi Reaches out as Xenophobic Attack in Johannesburg

It has been nearly 2 weeks since the new wave of Xenophobic attacks broke out across the cities of South Africa. Tzu Chi Volunteers delivers warm and care hand-to-hand to the victims of the tragic attack.

- by Ken Tsai -

Street image of Denver,
 blood and shuttered glass
still left on street after the violence

 It has been nearly 2 weeks since the new wave of Xenophobic attacks broke out across the cities of South Africa. Initially breaking out from the heart of Durban city, it has rapidly spread to main cities such as Johannesburg & Cape Town. Citizens of South African nationality looted, vandalised and destroyed the stores and houses owned by foreign nationals. 6 people were pronounced dead, at the time of writing.


Thousands of foreign nationals were forced to flee the country, while many others have been placed in temporary shelters set up by the South African local municipality.

Tzu Chi Volunteers explain that
 the blanket is from Taiwan,
and is made of recycled plastic bottle

It was reported on the Late Night News that about 300 refugees fled into the Cleveland police station, an area where one of our Tzu Chi Volunteers resides. The volunteer hurriedly called up more volunteers and urged them to bring some blanket and hot beverages to them; however local police reacted quickly, placing refugees into one of the provided shelters.



South Africa Tzu Chi Johannesburg chapter, which has been working with the South African Disaster Management Services (DMS) for many years, once again received calls to assist in providing relief to the refugees. This past Sunday, blankets and food parcels were handed out to the refugees at the shelters in an attempt to battle the significant drop in temperature due to the cold front hitting Gauteng Province in the last few days.

As night falls,
victims from foreign national
escape into the shelter

These foreign nationals have been chased out of their “homes”, have lost all their belongings, and the shelters can only provide limited amounts of food.



As foreign nationals flee out of the Xenophobic Area, a group of Tzu Chi Volunteers carry relief parcels, marching towards the most needed areas for humanitarian relief. Although we do feel the Xenophobia attack has lessened over the past few days, Tzu Chi Volunteers are ready to assist the need at any given time.




 (Tzu Chi Volunteers deliver warm blanket and
  food parcel at shelter)

Add caption

 (Tzu Chi Volunteers explain our unique disaster relief principle

  of Timeliness, Directness, Respect, Priority, Respect and      Practicality,  in order to deliver first hand to the victims)