Xenophobia: thousands expected at march

JABULANI 'Rasta' Vezi behind Sihle Nako and Cherise Levy at the march in Durban PICTURE BONGANI MBATHA

JABULANI 'Rasta' Vezi behind Sihle Nako and Cherise Levy at the march in Durban PICTURE BONGANI MBATHA

Published Apr 23, 2015

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Johannesburg - Thousands are expected to attend the People’s March against xenophobia in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Various organisations were to march through the Joburg CBD to protest against the xenophobic violence.

The march was due to start at Pieter Roos Park in Hillbrow at 1pm and end at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown.

Joburg metro police spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said the march would not result in any road closures.

Former Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said it was important for everyone to show their condemnation of the attacks.

“We need to take a stand. We need to communicate an unequivocal message that South Africa is not represented by that barbaric minority,” he told reporters earlier in the week.

African Diaspora Forum vice-chairman Jean-Pierre Lukamba said the attacks were reminiscent of the apartheid era. “The victims of yesterday’s apartheid become the oppressor of today’s people from other parts of Africa.”

The emergency coalition, which is organising the march, includes the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants South Africa, faith-based organisations, major social movements and trade unions.

In Cape Town, political parties, civil society and foreigners marched to Parliament on Wednesday with a memorandum calling for the government to sign an anti-xenophobic pledge. It was handed to the deputy secretary of Parliament, Baby Tyawa.

Braam Hanekom of People Against Suffering, Oppression and Poverty said: “It’s important that civil society in South Africa takes a strong view that we do not tolerate xenophobia or violence.”

The Star

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