Anti-xenophobia vigil at City Hall

DIAKONIA Council of Churches will hold an Anti-Xenophobia prayer vigil on the front steps of City Hall on Wednesday, 8 April from 1pm to 2pm.

The vigil is being held against the background of xenophobic violence that has affected Isipingo, Umlazi, Malukazi and Durban North suburbs over the past week with an escalation of violence a constant threat.

Diakonia has invited all clergy to an anti-xenophobia prayer vigil.

Nomabelu Mvambo-Dandala, executive director of Diakonia Council of Churches said Diakonia expressed “deep concern about the continuing xenophobic related attacks.

” Hundreds of people have been affected. Some have had their businesses and properties looted and many have been injured. Several have been left homeless. There are reports of some abductions and missing persons.

“We lament that most of the victims are law-abiding migrants seeking a safe and better life for their families in South Africa. We are gravely concerned at the prospect of further escalation of violence especially against the most vulnerable, including women and children,” she said.

According to Mvambo-Dandala, such xenophobic violence is in direct contradiction of our nation’s professed belief in ubuntu. The violence has laid bare the aching soul of our nation and revealed that we are a nation in need of healing. The violence is symptomatic of the deep structural problems in South Africa and foreign nationals have become scapegoats. Reducing the humanity in them makes violence against them easier and even ‘justified’.

“The aim of the prayer vigil is to spread positive messages of peace and highlight the fact that we can live together in harmony with foreign nationals among us as brothers and sisters,” she concluded.