Mbeki’s indulgence of Mugabe has hurt South Africa

South African President Thabo Mbeki's 'quiet diplomacy' in Zimbabwe has severely damaged his country's interests - and is leading to a wave of xenophobic violence.

Over the past week, at least 22 people have been killed, hundreds more injured and 10,000 forced to flee their burned and looted homes in poor townships around Johannesburg after a series of attacks on immigrants by groups of South Africans.

Such violence may have surprised foreigners who view South Africa as a "modern, industrialised country, with one of the worlds most progressive constitutions", says Sean Jacobs in The Guardian. But the truth is that South Africa is also one of the "most xenophobic countries in the world".

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