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Commentary: Concerted effort pays off in quieting Xenophobic violence in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, Jul 27, 2010 (Xinhua via COMTEX) --
by Musupi Dube, Li Jianmin
The South Africa Council Of
Churches and the UNHCR joined forces with several civic
organizations in putting together rallied efforts to curb the
start of yet another wave of violence against foreign nationals
resident in South Africa.
Though there were sporadic attacks in certain areas of the
country, overall, it is safe to surmise that the combined efforts
put in place by these organizations have paid off significantly as
they have managed to arrest the situation before it reached the
tantamount levels as it did during the May 2008 attacks, that saw
a number of foreign nationals becoming homeless, maimed or killed.
The wake up call that was raised before the end of the 2010
World Cup Tournament that was recently successfully hosted by
South Africa was enough to see a positive response from the
government and the police as they quickly and severely condoned
such behavior and warned the culprits-to-be of stern measures in
place to bring to book anyone seen or found perpetrating or
instigating such unwarranted behavior on innocent people.
A few cases were reported in the Western Cape region and
Johannesburg but quick action by the South African Police Service
(SAPS) ensured the culprits and individuals involved were brought
to book.
The South Africa Council Of Churches (SACC) and UNHCR an South
African Antixenophobia List group which is an alliance in which
civic society braced themselves for any humanitarian response to
help victims soon after rumors and threats started doing the
rounds just before, during and soon after the World Cup
tournament.
A site was opened to facilitate communication and updates by
the group on the situation on the ground and a helpline was
facilitated by the group and Mthwakazi, a civic society group
partnered with UNHCR to set it up. Volunteers from various
nationalities came forward to work in the call center to receive
any reports of threats, attacks or perceived attacks.
Calls were made by African Diaspora Forum to put in place,
preventive and not reactive measures in communities as this was a
more practical solution in arresting the situation.
South African Econet Wireless partnered with Action Support
Center and Population International to organization an Ubuntu
Derby between former Zimbabwean soccer Champions Highlanders and
Jomo Cosmos of South Africa on July 25, 2010.
This was an initiative to bring together various nationalities
in celebrating African cultural diversity and keep the spirit of
unity evident during the World Cup tournament as Africans rallied
together in support of African teams representing the continent
during the tournament. Soccer is a unifying factor that has been
witnessed to bring people together in one spirit and love.
The teams played a goalless draw but the electrifying spirit
gripped the Ellis Park stadium as people came to watch two of the
most successful clubs in the continent to fight it out and bring
people together in the fight against xenophobia.
Africa became one voice that one could not even silence as they
introduced to the world at large their special mode of supporting
soccer, through the vuvuzela which became the trademark of the
tournament.
People from all walks of life became experts in blowing the
vuvuzela which was once a trait of few staunch fans before the
start of the tournament. The vuvuzela became synonymous with the
African world cup such that it shall remain echoing in the minds
and memories of those that were present as the electrifying
atmosphere it created changed the face of football.
That spirit could not be allowed to diffuse by the diving and
unwarranted spirit of xenophobia. South Africa has become a world
spectacle and cannot afford to be labeled as an unsafe destination
after a resounding successful hosting of the tournament.
The government and all stakeholders involved should be given a
pat on the back for such a concerted effort in rising up to the
call of threats and rumors and action against thugs and hooligans
who wanted to take advantage of the vulnerable people in their
communities and robbing them in the name of xenophobia.
Whether said or implied or acted upon xenophobia is an ugly and
the most unwarranted act by any individual or society and needs to
be totally and fully addressed and render it an enemy of peace
like any war and should be dealt with as thoroughly as possible.
The economy of the country, international relations, peace and
stability are compromised by such irrational behavior and result
in such dire consequences that the country and the world cannot
afford to accommodate.
The country needs a peace building strategy that would help
address such issue in a more practical way that will engage
societies, community leaders, the youth, political leaders, church
leaders and civic society working hand in glove to bring about a
culture of co-existence.
The world cup tournament has set the ball rolling and as such
the government should take advantage of that and spearhead
campaigns that will create a peace building process which will
create a safe haven for all people from all walks of life.
The effort put so far has yielded plausible results, yet the
hatred and discrimination on the ground needs further looking into
as it has only got quiet but has not been totally eradicated.
Some foreign nationals with Section 22 Asylum seeker permits
have received a disservice from some national banks in the
country, not allowing them to produce these as form of
identification. To quite a number of foreigners in South Africa
these permits are the only forms of identity that they have save
for those with passports, resident permits and IDs.
The Lawyers for Human Rights chipped with legal assistance to
victims as they were turned away with some people receiving smses
to inform them about the discontinuation by banks to accept these
permits.
South Africa has been a victim of migration since time
immemorial and as such there is no way the country can totally
eradicate itself of foreigners. It is also one of the leading
players in tourism an as such it is in the country's hands to
create a better and safe society for all and keep the flag flying
high as it did when they hosted the world cup tournament.
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