The Africa Day commemorations served as a reminder that compels us to reaffirm our commitment to the development of the continent.

The orgy of violent attacks against Africans over the past two weeks should make us reflect on the essence of these celebrations and ponder how we perceive ourselves in relation to the continent.

Can we really call ourselves Africans when we lynch and torch innocent people whose only crime is speaking a different language?

Do we personify the quintessential model of ubuntu when we brutalise the very people who once provided succour and shelter to us during the dark days of apartheid?

When the policy of détente was at its zenith during the 1980s, impoverished schoolchildren used to sacrifice their pocket money to contribute to the struggle against apartheid.

Those were small yet significant contributions that instilled the importance of sacrifice for the greater good.

The footprint of leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyerere and Patrice Lumumba should serve as a catalyst that propels us to overcome the socio-economic challenges we are facing.

Africa belongs to all of us. Let us ensure that all Africans find a home on this great continent.

Anna Mokgokong and Namane Magau,

International Women's Forum, South African Chapter