An inclusive task team including government, religious organisations, business and labour unions was formed today to counter xenophobic violence which has rocked South Africa in recent weeks.
Emerging from a lengthy meeting with the different stakeholders at the Segako Makgatho Presidential guesthouse in Pretoria, President Jacob Zuma said an agreement had been made to join forces to combat the xenophobic attacks.
“We are confident that today, as we met with the sectors, we have taken one important decision that all the discussions should not end there. We have agreed to establish a small task team that is going to put together all the contributions, proposals and suggestions,” said Zuma.
“It will work out a programme that will be implemented by all of us collectively and by the sectors. Business, for example has a very elaborate programme that they articulated.”
The meeting was also attended by several top government officials including Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba, State Security Minister David Mahlobo, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe and Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.
In a statement, the Presidency said the consultative meeting would discuss South Africa’s migration policy and “how various sectors can work with government to promote orderly migration”.
The summit would also seek ways of fostering good relations between South African citizens and foreign nationals.
This week, Zuma is scheduled to meet leaders of organisations representing immigrants from the African continent. Representatives of immigrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh are also scheduled to attend. That meeting has been rescheduled to Friday.
The presidency said Friday’s summit would seek to ensure “that the shameful attacks on foreign nationals do not recur”.
Government deployed troops on Tuesday, this after seven people had been killed in xenophobic attacks, targeting mainly African migrants.
ANA