Around 500 people gathered on Church Square on Friday 24 April after a peace march that began with two groups starting at opposite ends of the town.
Around 500 people gathered on Church Square on Friday 24 April after a peace march that began with two groups starting at opposite ends of the town.
The march, co-ordinated by Rhodes University, was a gesture of respect for people affected by the xenophobic violence that has rocked South Africa over the past two weeks, and a call to halt it.
A small group of around 15 people marched from Fingo, and around 400 people from the Drostdy Arch.
Singing and dancing took over the town streets as the groups waved flags and held up banners with slogans such as “African Lives Matter”.
Rector of the College of the Transfiguration Vincentia Kgabe welcomed the colourful crowd gathered on the bricked square outside the Cathedral.
Mayor Zamuxolo Peter celebrated the fact that so far Grahamstown and its surrounding areas had so far been free from xenophobic attacks.
“Let’s keep it that way,” he said.
“If you have concerns, report them to authorities: do not take the law into your own hands.
"We are all Africans."
Rhodes University Vice Chancellor Sizwe Mabizela, who was among the group that marched down High Street, emphasised the need to respect and celebrate difference.
“We should spare no energy in building a more caring and just society,” he said.
"Every person in our country deserves to be treated with respect, irrespective where they came from.”
Sanco (South African National Civic Organisation) representative Zakunzima Tyala aid the community of Grahamstown was against Xenophobia.
Lungile Mxube, of the United Front, said, "We must defend our African brothers."
He emphasised that xenophobic attacks were destroying communities.
However, he said sending in a government task team to investigate what had sparked the recent spate of violence was not enough.
"They have to address the root cause," he said, "Which is mass poverty."
In her concluding statement, Kgabe thanked the crowd for helping combat “all the –isms that bedevil our society”.
*Edited Saturday 25 April to include comments by United Front, and another comment by the Mayor. And Sanco rep’s name.
