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The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has learnt of the disturbing news of xenophobic attacks on foreigners living in South Africa, including Ghanaians and Nigerians.

The irate youth in the town of Kroonstad and now Johannesburg complain of joblessness and accuse the foreigners of taking over their economic activities.

“We join many to condemn this despicable conduct on the part of the South African youth. While we condemn these acts in no uncertain terms, we believe strongly that the solution to prevent future attacks of such magnitude and unruly behaviour among the youth living anywhere does not lie in African leaders issuing statements of concern when these things happen. The solution lies in reversing with a sense of urgency the economic and social exclusion that fuels the anger of millions of desperate youth who have no hope of better living conditions,” the PPP stated in a statement signed by Mr Kofi Asamoah-Siaw, its National Secretary.

According to the PPP, these unjustifiable attacks in South Africa had been preceded by the Arab Spring, the Boko Haram insurgency and Al-Shabab killings.

It stated that many desperate African youth joined these groups because of poverty, ignorance and lack of effective social support systems.

Others, the PPP opined, risked their lives to cross the Mediterranean to seek salvation in Europe and thousands have died during these precarious journeys.

“We urge all African governments and leaders to pay serious attention to youth unemployment, illiteracy and poverty. We must take immediate and practical measures to deal with state-sponsored corruption and invest in the youth of Africa by providing education, better healthcare systems and job opportunities,” it stated.

According to the PPP, it was only when a fairer society with opportunities for everyone was created that the growth in radical ideology, xenophobic attacks and political, economic and social upheavals could be halted. We must be wide awake to their collective responsibilities.