Racism not only concern for community
RACISM was the topic of a dialogue held in Heideveld on Human Rights Day yesterday, as part of the City of Cape Town’s Inclusive City campaign, spearheaded by mayor Patricia de Lille.
The dialogue, which took place between Carol and Elsa courts, focused on principles of respect and unity, offering residents the opportunity to discuss their rights and the need to build communities based on those rights.
“This is just the beginning, we have to keep talking about the issue of racism and our rights and reach out to one another so we can start building the bridges,” De Lille said.
“Let us use this day as a celebration of the human rights that many people fought and died for and let us live out these rights every day in the way we treat each other.
“Today, as we celebrate Human Rights Day, we are reminded of the great price that was paid for our freedoms and our rights,” she said.
Human Rights Day has been celebrated in South Africa since 1994, following the inauguration of the first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela.
The day is held in commemoration of the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, where citizens protesting against apartheid-era pass laws were shot at by police. Between 5 000 and 7 000 protesters gathered outside the Sharpeville police station. The South African Police opened fire on the crowd, killing 69 people.
The Inclusive City campaign was launched last year with the aim of mobilising people to condemn racism with the call of “Don’t let racists speak for you”.
Heideveld Neighbourhood Watch leader Moegadien Barnes urged the community to speak about issues, including racism, in their homes.
“We need to go back to the old saying of ‘my child is your child’. The racism needs to be stopped in our homes,” Barnes said.
Another concerned Heideveld resident told the Cape Argus that allthough the community appreciated the gesture by the city, other issues were of importance, too, including drugs, gambling and gangsterism.
“Young mothers are selling drugs in our area. It creates a culture where minors are encouraged to smoke, which is against what we stand for in the community,” she said.
De Lille concluded the dialogue by saying: “Before apartheid divided us, people of all races and religions lived together.
“We are dealing with those divisions and we need to teach our children that we are all people, the colour of your skin does not matter.”