The Unemployed People’s Movement and the Rural People’s Movement convened a special meeting in Grahamstown on Thursday to discuss xenophobia.
This follows widespread looting of foreign owned shops in Makana Municipality on Wednesday.
“The warning signs that such xenophobic looting could occur had been repeatedly brought to the attention of the SA Police Service by the Unemployed Peoples Movement and other concerned residents‚” said a statement issued by the Makana Anti-Xenophobic Concerned group.
The group said the bodies of a number of dead people had been found in the weeks leading up to the looting on Wednesday‚ and rumours that could fuel xenophobic attacks had been circulating.
The group called: on the SAPS to protect the lives of people and arrest those implicated in criminal actions; on the Makana Municipal Council to show leadership in a period of widespread rights violations‚ and to improve service delivery; on Civil society‚ Trade Unions‚ Civic Associations‚ and faith based leaders to calm the situation; on taxi associations to abide by the law; on the NPA to prosecute those implicated in looting; on schools to educate learners as to the effects of looting; and on the media to educate citizens.
“In conclusion‚ we call upon the Municipality and SA Police in association with civil society‚ to urgently convene a public meeting of all role players so that a peaceful and long-lasting resolution can be arrived at.”
Civic organisations call for concerted action against xenophobia
The Unemployed People’s Movement and the Rural People’s Movement convened a special meeting in Grahamstown on Thursday to discuss xenophobia.
This follows widespread looting of foreign owned shops in Makana Municipality on Wednesday.
“The warning signs that such xenophobic looting could occur had been repeatedly brought to the attention of the SA Police Service by the Unemployed Peoples Movement and other concerned residents‚” said a statement issued by the Makana Anti-Xenophobic Concerned group.
The group said the bodies of a number of dead people had been found in the weeks leading up to the looting on Wednesday‚ and rumours that could fuel xenophobic attacks had been circulating.
The group called: on the SAPS to protect the lives of people and arrest those implicated in criminal actions; on the Makana Municipal Council to show leadership in a period of widespread rights violations‚ and to improve service delivery; on Civil society‚ Trade Unions‚ Civic Associations‚ and faith based leaders to calm the situation; on taxi associations to abide by the law; on the NPA to prosecute those implicated in looting; on schools to educate learners as to the effects of looting; and on the media to educate citizens.
“In conclusion‚ we call upon the Municipality and SA Police in association with civil society‚ to urgently convene a public meeting of all role players so that a peaceful and long-lasting resolution can be arrived at.”