CNF to Walk Against Xenophobia in South Africa

Community Networking Forum is embarking on a 7 days walk from the 14th – 21st March 08 to raise awareness of the dangers of self hate violence and xenophobia. Our intentions are to show ubuntu and solidarity towards our brothers and sisters that are discriminated against, victimised, robbed and killed because they are not South Africans

We are also hosting round table discussions on xenophobia as a build up towards the seven days event. This will take place in all the communities that we will visit during our walk. Out-comes of the intervention in communities is to assist or motivate the participants to set-up their own round table to discuss human rights and community integration issues.

Millions of people in Southern Africa sacrificed their lives so that South Africa could be a free democratic society. This happened when apartheid South Africa distabilised the region politically, economically and militarily. When this was achieved, the whole continent celebrated together with South Africans.

South Africa’s economy was build through the sweat and blood of all the African people of Southern Africa. It is the very Africans who worked in farms and mines to make this country what it is today. When political organisations were illegal in this country African countries opened their borders, made camps, arms, schools and money available to South Africans

Africans in their countries in similar conditions, they are being persecuted politically and economically. When they come to South Africans they find unwelcoming reception they are called Amakwere-kwere and discriminate against them. South Africans see them as a threat to little opportunities around, they are accused of taking jobs, they except cheap paying jobs, steal South Africa women and are perceived to be drug dealers. This hatred and negative attitude by South Africans leads to ill-treatment robbery, killing of innocent fellow Africans.

The walk will include film screenings, round table discussions and poetry in all the areas that we will visit. We invite all youth, faith based, business, labour and civic organizations, to join us to fight against all forms of discriminations on fellow Africans
When South Africa got democracy there was a reconciliation process and the whites that colonised, and held the majority under a violent system of apartheid were forgiven. But those that helped South Africa during the trying times seem to be the ones who are hated even more by South Africans.