Johannesburg - “If the voices of our children cannot stop this violence, then I don’t know what can.”
Children between the ages of 3 and 5 from Ulandi Kindergarten in Soweto spearheaded a march against xenophobia in the Joburg CBD on Monday.
The march was hosted by the ANC next to Luthuli House in an effort to stop the recent spate of attacks. About 300 people came down into the street to watch the children.
Portia Mkhabela, a head teacher at the school, told The Star the children had come to have their voices heard.
“We are here to make sure their message does not fall on deaf ears. Xenophobia affects them too. They feel it, and it hurts them. Foreigners are our brothers and sisters; this has to stop.”
Together with the children, Mkhabela made colourful posters with slogans reading: “Stop xenophobia and Afrophobia”, “SA belongs to all those who live in it” and “Love is the only solution”.
Each poster was filled with colourful words and the children’s handprints as a way of getting their message across.
The children also recited poems that their teachers had written, calling for South Africans to understand that “these bodies (of foreigners) are ours”, and that they are a part of us.
“I cry,” one child said, reading out: “I cry for what is happening to our beautiful country.”
Musician Candy sang and danced with the children and encouraged the crowd to join in and take a stand against xenophobia.
“People of Zimbabwe, Mozambique - SA loves you. I’m asking God to stop this and bless Africa, bring peace to Africa.”
The Star also spoke to some of the youngsters from the school.
One boy said: “It’s bad, people are getting hurt. We mustn’t hurt our people.”
Another little girl said: “We have to help. I want this to stop.”
The programme ended with the children singing the national anthem in front of a crowd of onlookers.
The Star