CPF, SAPS take to streets against xenophobia
Xenophobia was strongly denounced at the weekend, as several stakeholders took to the streets with placards calling for an end to xenophobia.
The Benoni Community Police Forum (CPF) along with the Benoni, Daveyton and Actonville SAPS staged a motorcade through Benoni on Saturday (April 25).
The procession started at Kingsway and proceeded through parts of Daveyton, Actonville, Farrarmere, Northmead and Rynfield.
It ended at the taxi rank in Voortrekker Street.
Some of the placards carried the following messages: “South Africa says no to xenophobia”, “The legacy of Madiba must live” and “CPF says no to xenophobia”.
The City Times reported on xenophobic tensions which flared up in Actonville on April 16.
The SAPS and EMPD fired rubber bullets and teargas to disperse a crowd of protesters.
Saturday’s procession comes two days after the SAPS, CPF and politicians from various political parties held an indaba.
Benoni CPF chairperson Reza Patel said the indaba focussed on xenophobia and was hailed as a massive success.
He said more such discussions will take place in Benoni, enabling a platform for issues such as xenophobia to be discussed.
Meanwhile, Ekurhuleni has set up a hotline for people to report xenophobic incidents to.
