Open-Day – get there!

Xenophobia
What is happening in our country today is a huge disappointment
after 20 years of democracy. It is very
clear that peace, reconciliation and Ubuntu is a far
dream for many than will not be realized soon. As a
country we need a strong leadership that is going to
be able to carry us in this difficult time. Emotions are
still running high.
Even calls for a peace march
organized by the eThekwini
Municipality on 16 April 2015
had an unexpected turnout. It
so happened that some group
protested against the peace
march. Who would have
thought that? Who wouldn’t
want peace?
The reason is there are still issues
on ground level that need
to be sorted out soon before
we see a repeat of the horrible
xenophobic attacks that took
place in 2008. In the heart of
all this, strong police presence
was visible throughout the
CBD in Durban. Rubber bullets
were also used to disperse the
masses of people promoting
xenophobic violence.
My heart goes out to those
foreigners who are used as scapegoats to escape unemployment,
inequality and poverty. That is why we
have seen many incidents of looting of foreign shops
and even the people attacked and harassed. These
are criminal acts which should be condemned.
Those who loot and take products belonging to another
person are criminals, period. We must understand
that how much is opportunism and how much
of these acts are xenophobia.
In the dark ages of apartheid, South Africans had a
refuge in other African countries. They were welcomed
with open arms and they were never attacked
or told they must go back to their country.
We should do likewise. After all we are all Africans,
Some foreigners bring skills into the country. For
example we have shortage of teachers, so by that
they are able to assist. In the PSL (Premier Soccer
League) there are foreign players who play in our
domestic league. These players
bring skills and fans love
them. What will happen if we
say foreigners must go back
home. We need to look at the
broader picture here.
The Freedom Charter states
very clearly that we ought to
protect foreign nationals. No
country can live in isolation.
Mutual respect is golden.
Foreigners are not animals,
they are our fellow brothers
and sisters. Let us love our fellow
Africans. After all, we are
all humans and we need one
another. Stop Xenophobia.
Promote peace. Let us live by
the spirit of reconciliation and
Ubuntu.
Leaders, whether politicians
or royalty, should think twice before making comments
about foreigners as this is still a sensitive issue.
Stop being opportunistic. Maya Angelou once said:
“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings
because it has a song.”
You don’t have to march to show that you are antixenophobic,
the little generous act you can perform
to a fellow african will go a long way. Love South Africa,
Love Africa. Stop Xenophobia.
Staff Reporter
>>>HOLA MAHIGH-SCHOOL
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