Anti Xenophobia March: A Call for Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi to resign
Xenophobia, in simple terms, is defined as the fear or dislike, hatred of foreigners or strangers; it is embodied in discriminatory attitudes and behavior and often culminates in violence, abuses of all types, and exhibitions of hatred and demeaning- causing someone to lose their dignity and the respect of others.
The march to address Xenophobia is currently underway today the 26th of March 2022 in Johannesburg Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia started off in Hillbrow and now they are heading towards Johannesburg Central Police where Nhlanhla Lux, the founder of the Dudula movement is being detained. It’s interesting to note that members of Operation Dudula are also protesting outside the Johannesburg Central Police in support of their leader Nhlanhla Lux,
The march against xenophobia was originally scheduled to take place on 21 March 2022 during the commemoration of National Human Rights Day. The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) prohibited their march
Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia approached the High Court to challenge a ban on an anti-xenophobia march in Johannesburg. Representatives of the group held a press conference on 20 March 2022 at the Constitution Hill Human Rights Festival. The court challenge was argued by advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, appointed with the assistance of the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of SA.
You may recall that in previous years this xenophobia has manifested as verbal abuse and physical attacks, to an extent of burning people alive, with notable waves occurring in 2008 and 2015 when hundreds of foreigners were affected. Research has revealed that prior to 1994, immigrants from elsewhere faced discrimination and even violence in South Africa, now South Africa is known to the world as a xenophobic country
In September 2019, xenophobic attacks escalated dramatically in two large South African cities, Johannesburg and Pretoria. Opposition parties blame the home affairs department for the rising of xenophobia and the SA Council of Churches calls for dialogue to end attacks on foreign nationals.
The demands of Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia are as follows as read on their memorandum;
i) They are calling for the removal of Home Affairs Minister, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi.
ii) They are calling for swift action to be taken
iii) They indicated that they are marching to reject the action of Operation Dudula.
iv) The police should defend everyone regardless of their nationality, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and SAPS must enforce the law equally,
v) They lamented that the Dudula movement is inciting violence against children, women, and men simply because they are not South African citizens
vi) They also lamented that the Dudula movement is dividing Africans on our continent by spreading hatred, xenophobia, and violence
vii) They are calling for President Ramaphosa to lead with a clear implementation plan
viii) They condemn the attack on poor women selling for example tomatoes, they say Operation Dududa must confront the government direct, not immigrants, they are venting their anger to the wrong people
The Operation Dudula movement has been criticized by many stating that the protesters are vigilantes and criminals because they encourage xenophobia, while its backers insist they are protecting livelihoods from undocumented immigrants.
The story is still developing, more details to follow;
What are your thoughts about Operation Dudula? What are your thoughts about Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia?
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