The DA strongly condemns the recent wave of xenophobic violence that exploded across Grahamstown last week. We also condemn the opportunistic criminal elements that have looted businesses and destroyed property across the city.
The DA strongly condemns the recent wave of xenophobic violence that exploded across Grahamstown last week. We also condemn the opportunistic criminal elements that have looted businesses and destroyed property across the city.
Grahamstown should be a safe city of hope and rising opportunity not a city of hopelessness and fear.
Community leaders, local councillors, religious leaders, SAPS and the business community must unite to stamp out the embers of xenophobic violence through ongoing community engagement.
The spark of xenophobia is highly combustible and can never be underestimated. Neighbours living in peace one day turn on one another the next, burning homes and businesses.
It is in times like these that we require leadership to restore stability and give direction. Leadership that can unite, not divide. During the xenophobic violence that swept across South Africa earlier this year we heard the divisive and disturbing language of xenophobia.
The xenophobic utterances made by King Goodwill Zwelithini, Edward Zuma and Gwede Manatashe earlier this year are unacceptable. At a time when our country needs leadership more than ever, we cannot tolerate irresponsible comments that seek to undermine our founding values.
It is in the darkest depths of despair that the spark of xenophobia can become a raging fire. Rising unemployment, a stagnant economy with poor growth prospects and the collapse of service delivery in Makana Municipality have created an abundance of despair in our society.
Creating rising opportunities for all residents of Grahamstown is critically important in the fight against xenophobia and the triple threat of poverty, inequality and unemployment. We need to build a society based on the values of freedom, fairness and opportunity for all.
We need to create a united Grahamstown where we all stand together against the criminal elements that seek to derail our society. We need to learn to live and work together in South Africa.
It is now up to every single person in Makana to take a stand against xenophobia in all forms. In order to defeat xenophobia we must unite as South Africans like we did earlier this year when community members and local leadership led a march against xenophobia. Now more than ever we need to unite again to say, "not in my name".
We must not stray from the goal of creating a South Africa where everyone, regardless of race, nationality, culture or gender feels safe and at home. We must never forget our common humanity.
* Andrew Whitfield, MP, is a Member of Tourism Portfolio Committee and leader of the DA's Frontier constituency.
