ABAHLALI base Mjondolo, the shack dwellers association, has expressed great sadness following the spate of attacks on foreign nationals. The attacks started in the Springfield Park area last week and have resulted in numerous people being displaced from their homes and communities.
According to the association’s Nomsa Sizani, their movement’s philosophy of ubuhlalism started from the principle that every human being has an inherent dignity which should be respected.
“This is the foundation of our politics and it is where we draw the strength to rebel against injustice, even when the struggle is long and its cost is very high. We are committed to the struggle to build a society, and a world, in which every person’s dignity is respected, a world of equality and justice in which land, wealth and power are shared fairly,” said Sizani.
Meanwhile, eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede said calm has been restored and those displaced have been reintegrated back into their communities. On Saturday, the Mayor and the acting Malawian High Commissioner to South Africa, Gloria Bamusi, held a meeting for the Burnwood Informal Settlement community.
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“We have managed to return the situation to normality, a large group of Malawian nationals have opted to return to Burnwood Informal Settlement. However, we have about 105 Malawians who have requested to be repatriated. We are doing everything possible to assist them together with the International Organisation for Immigration and the Malawi High Commission,” said Gumede.
However, the shack dwellers have claimed that both the ANC and the DA’s campaigning statements are deeply xenophobic, grossly irresponsible and pose a real and urgent threat to their democracy.
“The politicians are deliberately building hate to divide us. They know that if neighbours are turned against neighbours their power will be secure. We call on all political parties to respect the lives and dignity of impoverished people. Violence, discrimination and xenophobia have no place in our society,” concluded Sizani.
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