ETHEKWINI Municipality together with provincial government will march against the scourge of xenophobia on Thursday, 16 April. The march will be led by KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu and Mayor James Nxumalo.
Groups representing foreign nationals, religious groups, non-government organisations and civil society have confirmed that they will be part of the march which will start from Curries Fountain at 10am and end at City Hall.
The march comes in the wake of spreading incidents of attacks against foreign nationals and their businesses.
Both the leadership of the province and the city have appealed to residents to work with government and law enforcement authorities to address the root causes of the sporadic violent attacks directed at foreign nationals.
“The latest acts of violence directed at foreign nationals are shaming our province and tarnishing our international standing. We are calling on everyone to be part of this bold statement which says we must immediately stop these attacks and work towards the reintegration of our foreign national brothers and sisters into the communities where they were living,” appealed Mchunu.
He said the attacks undermined efforts as South Africans in building a united Africa that was at peace with itself and its people.
“Let it be known to all that without the solidarity of the African continent and its people we would not have been able to achieve the freedom we enjoy today,” added Mchunu.
Nxumalo echoed the Premier’s sentiment, saying both eThekwini and KwaZulu-Natal are known as tourist and investment destinations of choice.
“South Africa is an integral part of the African continent and a member of the African Union and SADC. Our success is, therefore, intertwined with collaboration with the African continent and its people,” said Nxumalo.
The march, which is expected to attract 10 000 people, will also be attended by foreign representatives and civic society leaders such as church and traditional leaders.
Both leaders announced that apart from this march other interventions are working flat out to stop the attacks, start a dialogue towards social cohesion and work on the reintegration of the displaced people.
Ongoing consultation meetings are underway in affected communities to negotiate the reintegration of displaced foreign nationals back into the community.”We appeal for calm in our communities and call on all those engaged in unlawful activities such as attacking other people and looting to stop as this is perpetuating the suffering of fellow African sisters and brothers, especially women and young children. We call for the Spirit of Ubuntu to prevail in our communities,” he said.
