Kenmare repatriates South African employees

Irish mining firm Kenmare Resources has repatriated 62 South Africans working at its titanium mine in Mozambique for their safety after anti-immigrant attacks back home.

The company said in a statement it was sending the workers back home temporarily for their safety in case of reprisal attacks.

At least seven people have been killed in a wave of anti-immigrant violence that started this month in Durban. The violence spread to Johannesburg last week, with police patrolling trouble spots.

Kenmare said operations at its Moma Titanium Mine on the north-east coast of Mozambique are to continue without significant disruption if the situation is resolved “in the near future”.

Kenmare is the second firm to repatriate South African workers from Mozambique after Sasol sent 340 employees back home for their safety last week.

South African business officials said they were also concerned other African countries could decide to boycott products or services from Africa’s most advanced economy.

“The concern is the longer this drags on and the more anti-South African business sentiments starts to creep up across the continent, then naturally our retail members could come under attack,” said Gwarega Mangozhe, chief executive of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa, which represents more than 12,000 retailers and manufacturers.

Violence flared after Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini said in March in remarks widely reported by South African media that foreigners should leave the country.