Spirit of reconciliation
MIDRAND – Church leaders plan on going to communities and delivering apologies and knowledge to stop xenophobic attacks in the country.
Church leaders representing Nigeria and South Africa held a press briefing to speak against the recent attacks against foreign nationals (Nigerians specifically) in the country and to make amends as a way of leading by example and bringing peace.
The meeting was held in Midrand at the Protea Hotel on 25 September where both South African and Nigerian business leaders, church leaders and ordinary community members gathered to absorb the message.
The wave of xenophobic attacks around Johannesburg and Pretoria in early September left at least 12 people dead while many businesses were looted and destroyed. Nigeria offered its nationals in South Africa the opportunity to return to their home country.
Representing Nigeria at the briefing was Pastor Segun Olanipekun who expressed his sincere apologies. “I just want to say again that we actually are sorry for what a few Nigerians in our community have done, such as drug peddling and prostitution.
“A few of us Nigerians planned to meet and discuss what we can do, to which we decided we need to formulate a genuine response, a conversation around both bereaved and perceived grievances of our communities.
“A few criminal elements among us that have been spotted by the South African community should not paint every Nigerian with the same brush, but actually our overwhelming contribution should be highlighted. So we are looking at South Africans opening the doors in the townships and inviting us Nigerians to come and have a dialogue with them.
“I believe that everybody knows that it is not just Nigerians who are guilty of this.
“We believe that the narrative should change because the positive contributions of Nigerians in this community should override a few of the negative things that the Nigerians have done.”
Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, politician and leader of the African Christian Democratic Party, added that both South Africa and Nigeria have apologised. “In Parliament, I made a public apology and I believe we must accept that in every nation there are the righteous and the unrighteous.
“I am sitting between our fellow African brothers who do not approve of what the criminals from Nigeria have been doing in South Africa.
“The fact that they have apologised more than once, it behooves us to accept the apology and forgive, likewise they also should forgive South Africans for having targeted innocent foreign nationals.
“Those who are breaking the law must be arrested, nobody here is defending anyone breaking the law. South Africa must put pressure on the South African government so that they can deal with the criminals.”
Related article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/212872/elections-2019-south-africans-finding-bearings-ahead-elections/
