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Xenophobia
5 June 2008 ( Diakonia Council of Churches, Durban) - The DDP in collaboration with the Kwazulu Natal Christian Council hosted a workshop in Durban to provide a platform for a plan of action with regard to the recent spate of Xenophobia that has gripped the country and displaced many communities in Durban.
More than 150 particpants were addressed by three expert panelists who provided insights into some of the causes of the Xenophobic attacks. Representatives of foreign communities who were present felt deeply hurt about the way that they were treated and mentioned a number of other discriminatory practices that made their lives in South Africa intolerable. It was clear that the recent attacks have struck at the very heart of all South Africans and that there was a need to speak seriously about:
- issues of integration of refugee and immigrant communities
- Undertaking educational workshops in the communities to create space to talk about issues of racism
and Xenophobia.
- Long term solutions to the present crisis.
There was broad consensus that we (the citizens of South Africa) have not seriously engaged each other about issues of race and Xenophobia.
A smaller workshop is planned in conjunction with the leaders of the refugee communities in order to formulate a concrete action plan aimed at finding some solutions to the problem.
2011 South African Reconciliation Barometer Survey
