Plea to end xenophobia to mark Africa Day

AMNESTY International South Africa has urged authorities to bring an end to xenophobia and racial discrimination, in a bid to promote social cohesion and tolerance among communities.

This call was also made by the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa and eight other NGOs to mark Africa Day today.

The organisation said African refugees and migrants living in South Africa were subjected to frequent xenophobic attacks and other hateful acts, often accused of being criminals or stealing jobs from locals.

“Often, African refugees and migrants suffer human rights abuses in South Africa because of who they are and what they look like, without consequence for the perpetrators,” said Shenilla Mohamed, executive director of Amnesty International SA.

“Partly, these attacks have been fuelled by a long-standing culture of impunity and reckless leaders who use migrants and refugees as scapegoats for their political grandstanding and service delivery failures.”

On February 24, residents of Pretoria took to the streets protesting against high inequality, poverty and unemployment, blaming these on refugees and migrants.

The protests were accompanied by confrontations and violence.

In October last year, the South African cabinet opened the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill for public comment.

Once it becomes law, it will create offences for several forms of discrimination, including on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and nationality.

“Poverty cannot be used to justify murder and human rights violations of African refugees and migrants in South Africa.

“Authorities must ensure that the law works for all, including refugees and migrants, as guaranteed by the constitution,” said Thifulufheli Sinthumule, advocacy officer for the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa.

“Equally, impunity for past crimes and human rights violations against refugees and migrants must be resolved, with perpetrators brought to justice in fair trials,” said Gaudence Uwizeye, a community practitioner at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.

Africa Day is the annual commemoration of the formation of the Organisation of African Unity, now known as the African Union, after its formation on May 25, 1963.

The day is celebrated in various countries on the African continent, as well as in other parts of the world with strong historical links with Africa.