THE Durban Holocaust and Genocide Centre (DHGC) hosted a conversation on Xenophobia last week where they heard from 50 men and women from across Africa, including from Durban, who were invited to share their experiences.
Impassioned stories of trauma, shame, fear and rage were shared during the facilitated conversation on Thursday, November 3, which also tackled creative ideas to combat xenophobia.
Mary Kluk, founder of the DHGC and deputy-president of the World Jewish Congress, highlighted the importance of speaking out about issues like xenophobia.
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“Atrocities such as the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide teach us the high price of silence and indifference,” said Kluk, “It reminds us what can happen when human rights go unchecked and when we treat each other badly with words that turn violent.”
Speakers at the event recounted their experiences of intimidation, murder, torture, bullying and jealousy on the streets of Durban. Among the speakers was Daniel Byamungu Dunia who called for greater government intervention in addressing xenophobia.
“A cohesive society needs trust. And South Africans are slow to trust each other. Acceptance and participation are necessary. We live in a wounded society where there is no political will, so no easy solutions,” he added.
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Another speaker, 17-year-old Arnold Mapodeno, highlighted a lack of acceptance in his community.
“I was born here, but I am an outsider. I have been forced to co-exist with a race that is not fond of me, so it is hard to stay positive when the world is so negative,” he said.
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