By Xolani Mbanjwa and Sapa
If the re-integration of victims of xenophobia is not done properly it could spell disaster for government, human rights groups have warned.
Speaking at the two-day conference in Pretoria on Monday on curbing xenophobia and forging social tolerance, Marivic Garcia, a social worker with the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, warned that reintegration would be a "complex" exercise.
Garcia urged the government to carefully apply its mind when reintegrating immigrants or this could "have serious consequences".
Nkosikhulule Nyembezi, advocacy manager for the Black Sash, called for a moratorium on all arrests and deportations for immigration offences until the xenophobic crisis was resolved.
Nyembezi called for a comprehensive reintegration programme to be implemented "until governmental guidelines to regularise immigrants' status in South Africa have been released".
SA Human Rights Commission chairperson Jody Kollapen said "we can't deal with xenophobia with simplicity".
"There needs to be more dialogue". He said South Africans must keep in mind that their country was not perfect.
While other groups blamed the attacks on service delivery and unemployment, the SA House of Traditional Leaders (SAHTL) blamed colonialism and apartheid.
SAHTL chairperson Kgosi Peter Kutama said "colonialism and apartheid caused lots of suffering".
"After the continent of Africa was looted by the West and divided by borders Africa was left with poverty and hunger."
Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said she was aware that many communities were still hostile to the idea of reintegration.
She realised the hostility – which "goes beyond the pressure brought on poor people who have to compete for scarce resources" – after she had visited the Atteridgeville and spoken to migrants and locals.
The minister promised that government would listen to experts, victims of xenophobia and the communities affected by the violence.
Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad said xenophobia had no place in a free and democratic SA.
This article was originally published on page 2 of Pretoria News on August 19, 2008
CSVR is a multi-disciplinary institute that seeks to understand and prevent violence, heal its effects and build sustainable peace at the community, national and regional levels.
