Several city organisations were set to meet on Monday to discuss a joint campaign aimed at preventing an outbreak of xenophobic violence after the World Cup, following their reports that foreigners in townships face very real threats as soon as the sporting event ends.
The meeting will lead up to the "Blow your vuvuzela against xenophobia" campaign, to be launched on Thursday.
Africa Unite, a city-based NGO, hosted a meeting in Philippi East on Monday, inviting other organisations to discuss plans to prevent xenophobia after the World Cup.
Community leaders at the meeting were keen to launch anti-xenophobia initiatives this week, explaining that they had heard of planned attacks on foreigners.
Africa Unite has held several workshops and community meetings about possible xenophobic attacks in the past few months.
The organisation's director, Zoe Nkongolo, said the reports at these meetings, from locals and foreigners, proved there was a definite possibility of violence after the soccer event.
Last week the province's MEC for Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, met roleplayers to address fears of xenophobic attacks.
The department held meetings with both the UNHCR and civil society last week.
Nkongolo said that a meeting had been held last month at Beautiful Gate, a Phillipi East organisation, during which recommendations were made to prevent an outbreak of xenophobia.
During that meeting a committee comprising 15 local organisations was formed.
Their recommendations included the launch of the anti-xenophobia campaign, calling on support from local ward councillors and appealing for an increased police presence after the World Cup.
On Sunday, local ANC member Zola Nkomo said it was important to get to the bottom of the "rumours and reports", adding that at this stage there were no facts to support suggestions that violence would take place, nor were reasons for the possible attacks clear.
Nkongolo said that Africa Unite youth peer educators had warned that they had already had to intervene in xenophobia-related incidents in areas like Masiphumelele and Dunoon.
"This is a reality, foreign nationals have confirmed it."
At yesterday's meeting Mohamed Fatule, from the Somali Retailers Association, said: "If you don't take action, this will happen. When three customers come into your shop and tell you that after the World Cup is done, you must leave, then it's serious. Even in Enkanini (in Khayelitsha), they were trying to burn down Somali shops."
Xolile Ndzoyi, from Chuma, a Gugulethu-based organisation, said these kinds of initiatives would be the most effective, because they targeted youth, the reported perpetrators of the rumoured attacks.
"The young people are the ones doing these things. We need events that will attract them, like street football. But I'm worried, the World Cup is ending in one week. In South Africa, we always act after the problem."
Meeting chairman Bonisele Mngese, a community leader from Browns Farm, said that news of planned attacks was spreading fast in townships.
"There is the widespread rumour that after the World Cup our brothers and sisters will be chased away from South African soil.
"We have to stand up, we don't want to see what we saw the last time. Whoever is perpetrating this, we don't know, but let's prevent the coming anger," Mngese said.
Nkongolo said the office of the mayor Dan Plato and Western Cape premier Helen Zille would be approached about the campaign.
The meeting will lead up to the "Blow your vuvuzela against xenophobia" campaign, to be launched on Thursday.Africa Unite, a city-based NGO, hosted a meeting in Philippi East on Monday, inviting other organisations to discuss plans to prevent xenophobia after the World Cup.
Community leaders at the meeting were keen to launch anti-xenophobia initiatives this week, explaining that they had heard of planned attacks on foreigners.
Africa Unite has held several workshops and community meetings about possible xenophobic attacks in the past few months.
The organisation's director, Zoe Nkongolo, said the reports at these meetings, from locals and foreigners, proved there was a definite possibility of violence after the soccer event.
Last week the province's MEC for Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, met roleplayers to address fears of xenophobic attacks.
The department held meetings with both the UNHCR and civil society last week.
Nkongolo said that a meeting had been held last month at Beautiful Gate, a Phillipi East organisation, during which recommendations were made to prevent an outbreak of xenophobia.
During that meeting a committee comprising 15 local organisations was formed.
Their recommendations included the launch of the anti-xenophobia campaign, calling on support from local ward councillors and appealing for an increased police presence after the World Cup.
On Sunday, local ANC member Zola Nkomo said it was important to get to the bottom of the "rumours and reports", adding that at this stage there were no facts to support suggestions that violence would take place, nor were reasons for the possible attacks clear.
Nkongolo said that Africa Unite youth peer educators had warned that they had already had to intervene in xenophobia-related incidents in areas like Masiphumelele and Dunoon.
"This is a reality, foreign nationals have confirmed it."
At yesterday's meeting Mohamed Fatule, from the Somali Retailers Association, said: "If you don't take action, this will happen. When three customers come into your shop and tell you that after the World Cup is done, you must leave, then it's serious. Even in Enkanini (in Khayelitsha), they were trying to burn down Somali shops."
Xolile Ndzoyi, from Chuma, a Gugulethu-based organisation, said these kinds of initiatives would be the most effective, because they targeted youth, the reported perpetrators of the rumoured attacks.
"The young people are the ones doing these things. We need events that will attract them, like street football. But I'm worried, the World Cup is ending in one week. In South Africa, we always act after the problem."
Meeting chairman Bonisele Mngese, a community leader from Browns Farm, said that news of planned attacks was spreading fast in townships.
"There is the widespread rumour that after the World Cup our brothers and sisters will be chased away from South African soil.
"We have to stand up, we don't want to see what we saw the last time. Whoever is perpetrating this, we don't know, but let's prevent the coming anger," Mngese said.
Nkongolo said the office of the mayor Dan Plato and Western Cape premier Helen Zille would be approached about the campaign.
- Cape Argus
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