Following the recent spate of xenophobic attacks that befell the country, the speaker of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Clr Patricia Kumalo, hosted an anti-xenophobia dialogue last Wednesday.
The event, which took place at the Germiston Civic Centre, created a platform for Africans to engage on the source of the xenophobic violence and to also examine the impact the attacks and threats have had on the country’s economy and image.
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mzwandile Masina, gave the keynote address during which he encouraged South Africans to make a pledge to become active citizens who will say “not in my name will the blood of fellow Africans be shed” during these attacks.
“We all have a role to play to ensure a peaceful co-existence in communities. Business, labour and civil society is encouraged to educate South Africans on the need for peaceful co-existence with all who live in our communities. Violence has never resolved problems, but dialogue does and we need to understand the cause of these attacks for us to find lasting solutions that will aid in preventing xenophobic attacks and ensure Africans live among other Africans in harmony,” said Masina.
The address was followed by discussions among invited representatives from various communities of foreign nationals, government departments of International Relations, Justice and Home of Affairs, as well as civil society.
