Uniting to protect foreigners

A national campaign to combat xenophobia was launched yesterday in a troubled Cape Town township known for attacks on foreigners.

A wide coalition of church and civil society leaders gathered in Du Noon, near the city, to sign a pledge of unity against xenophobic violence.

Organisers hope to collect more than 1million signatures countrywide within three months.

They plan to host community events in hot spot areas such as Du Noon, where foreigners have been routinely targeted since the first wave of xenophobic violence in 2008.

Foreigners were again targeted last week in Western Cape in a series of attacks in several township areas.

Black Sash spokesman Nyembezi Nkosikhulule said rumours of another wave of attacks prompted the latest initiative. Behind it are groups such as Scalabrini Centre, of Cape Town, Sonke Gender Justice Network, and People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression and Poverty (Passop).

"It is not just signing the pledge but also committing oneself to specific actions to promote human rights," Nkosikhulule said.

Passop spokesman Braam Hanekom said many of the foreigners driven away during last week's attacks were being reintegrated into their communities, particularly in Mbekweni, near Paarl, where Zimbabwean and Somali traders were targeted.

"Ironically, most of the traders have now been reintegrated because the community was begging to have them back."

Yesterday's signatories in Du Noon included Catholic Archbishop of Cape Town Stephen Brislin.

(This story was provided and used with permission by Timeslive.)