Marc Gbaffou, chairperson of the Africa Diaspora Forum, speaks against xenophobia and racism in Joubert Park
HILLBROW – South Africa belongs to all who live in it.
Marc Gbaffou, chairperson of the Africa Diaspora Forum urged South Africans and African migrants to unite in the fight against racism, discrimination and xenophobia.
Gbaffou was speaking at an anti-racism event organised by the police held in Joubert Park in Hillbrow.
The event was aimed at highlighting the scourge of racism and xenophobia in the country that has seen foreign nationals attacked and displaced. Scores of South Africans and foreign nationals gathered in the park to raise their voices against xenophobia and racism saying it was against human rights.
Read: Eliminating xenophobia through education
According to Gbaffou, South Africa belongs to all who live in it, irrespective of whether they are migrants or not.
“It does not mean that when you were born in South Africa then it means that others have no right to be here. We are all Africans and the Constitution allows us all to be here and live as much as other people do,” said Gbaffou.
He said the forum was created in immediate reaction to the xenophobic and violent attacks that took place in 2008, adding that it was originality a union of a number of organisations representing African migrant communities living in the country.
The Ivorian community leader also condemned all forms of violence and attacks on foreign businesses, saying it was inhuman. “Not all foreigners are criminals, others are legitimate businesses people with good intentions and it is wrong for people to burn their shops, let alone loot them. [The forum] condemns all forms of violence and encourages people to report those suspected of committing crimes to the police rather than taking the law into their own hands,” said Gbaffou.
