In response the ongoing xenophobic violence in South Africa, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) on Wednesday called off the planned friendly international against Bafana Bafana in Lusaka on Saturday.
Foreign nationals have had their stores raided and also found themselves on the receiving end of physical abuse over the last couple of weeks in the Rainbow Nation.
Five people have been killed in riots across Gauteng, and the clashes have caused a diplomatic incident between South Africa and many other African countries whose citizens are being put in harm’s way.
The move from FAZ to cancel the fixture in protest is probably more significant than it is currently being given credit for as this is likely the first time a sporting event involving South Africa has been called off for political reasons since apartheid.
“The Football Association of Zambia regrets to inform members of the public that the international friendly match between Zambia and South Africa that was scheduled for National Heroes Stadium on Saturday, 7 September 2019, has been called off in view of the prevailing security concerns in South Africa,” the association said in a statement.
“FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala has relayed the message to the South African Football Association (SAFA) about the decision.”
South African Football Association (Safa) communications director Dominic Chimhavi confirmed the news and revealed they are looking into alternative options for a replacement fixture.
“The game is off. We have just received correspondence from the FAZ to that say they cannot undertake this match with the ongoing violence in SA‚ including targeting [of] their own people‚” he said, according to Times Live.
However, due to the nature of the cancellation of the fixture with Bafana Bafana, it wouldn’t be that surprising if they were unable to find any willing participants.
Although South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has vowed to clamp down on the perpetrators of the attacks after the African Union, Nigeria and Zambia condemned the attacks.
In a video address broadcast on Twitter, Ramaphosa said attacks on businesses run by “foreign nationals is something totally unacceptable, something that we cannot allow to happen in South Africa.”
“I want it to stop immediately,” said Ramaphosa, adding that the violence had “no justification.”
Source: The South African
