Ela Gandhi confronts anti-foreign national march in Umbilo
Peace activist Ela Gandhi confronted protesters outside Home Affairs in Che Guevara Road, who were demanding that foreign nationals return home.
Peace activist and social worker Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi and founder of the Natal Organisation of Women, stepped out to stand in front of the Home Affairs offices in Che Guevara Road, Umbilo on Thursday (September 10) as a group of marchers protested, calling for foreign nationals to return home and to stop squatting on that road.
Gandhi, who was present as the protesters gathered, expressed her disappointment at the ongoing aggression directed at foreign nationals.
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Addressing the situation, Gandhi said South Africa’s challenges cannot be solved through division.
“South Africa has a lot of problems in terms of employment and poverty. What they are saying is not the way of solving the problem. It is the economy that we have to put right and also showing solidarity to each other, then the resources of the country will be shared and everyone will have a job and be happy,” said Gandhi.
She called on government to urgently intervene and find humane and lasting solutions for displaced people living on the streets.
“Something needs to be done by our government in order to provide shelter and security for these people and decide how South Africa is going to deal with the migration issue,” she said.
Gandhi added that the scenes of hate are damaging South Africa’s image internationally.
She said she had been invited to an event where she is expected to invite tourists to visit South Africa, but questioned how she could do so under current circumstances.
“Can I really ask tourists to come, when this sort of behaviour is being witnessed?” she asked. “How can I ask tourists to visit while we experience this hate every day?”
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