Statement by the City’s Executive Mayor, Patricia de Lille
City stands united against xenophobia
Note to editors: the following is an extract from a speech delivered by Mayor
De Lille at the Standing United Against Xenophobia interfaith prayer service at
St Georges Cathedral
Good afternoon, goeie middag, molweni, as-salaam alaikum, shalom.
I would like to take a moment to thank the Western Cape Religious Leaders
Forum and the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative for taking the initiative to host
this event together with the City of Cape Town.
Thank you to Father Michael Weeder, Dean of St Georges Cathedral, for
making the church available for this service.
I met with the religious leaders last week as part of the Inclusive City
campaign.
As part of this dialogue, I have been meeting with a range of industry bodies
in order to promote a human rights-based culture in our city.
The tagline for this campaign is ‘Don’t let racists speak for you’, because we
believe that the decent majority of our residents are not racist.
Similarly we know that the majority of Capetonians are peace-loving, while
only a small minority are xenophobic.
While the City of Cape Town has focused this dialogue on racial
discrimination, the religious representatives present unanimously agreed that
they would like to take a collective stand against xenophobia here in Cape
Town.
It was, and is, so inspiring to see leaders from all different religions unite
around a common cause.
It sets an example for us as nation so rich in diversity.
The Constitution of South Africa, which is revered as the most progressive in
the world, is very clear about the kind of freedoms that each of us can enjoy.
It is also clear about our responsibilities.
The very first chapter of our Constitution states that our nation is a state which
is founded on a list of values.
The very first values they mention are human dignity, the achievement of
equality, and the advancement of human rights and freedoms.
From Cape to Cairo, Madagascar to Morocco, we are all African.
But even before we are African, we are all human.
Ubuntu prescribes that the humanity within all us of must be valued and
cherished.
Some of our African brothers and sisters have been treated like they are even
less than humans.
The images which have emerged from the recent spate of xenophobic
attacks in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng have been some of the worst
witnessed in South Africa since the dawn of our democracy.
Horror stories have arisen from the mouths of people who came to our
country in search of a better life.
Yesterday, on the radio I heard the voice of a man who has just lost his
brother due to the attacks.
He said that they ‘did not come to South Africa to be killed’.
How have we wondered so far away from ideals laid out in Constitution?
Some among us have turned against the brothers and sisters from the very
nations who assisted us in our struggle against Apartheid.
We cannot allow this to continue.
We cannot let this be done, in the name of our country South Africa.
We need to take a stand, together, and make it absolutely clear that we will
not stand for this in South Africa.
All leaders are not exempt from these actions.
We must call on leaders to act more responsibly.
Those who lead us, must lead us into unity, not into further division.
They should guide our nation to tolerance and peace.
While this responsibility does not solely lie with them, people are awaiting their
guidance.
When we launched the Inclusive City dialogue here in Cape Town, I said that
as hard as it is, it is the responsibility of leaders to demonstrate courage and
initiate these difficult conversations.
The time for that courage is now, and it is a continuous illustration of
courageous leadership that is needed.
We should be preaching peace even in the absence of xenophobic attacks.
The Premier and I give our assurance that we are doing everything in our
power to prevent xenophobic attacks from happening here.
We are working in close collaboration with national government.
We have daily meetings with the South African Police Service and Metro
Police to report on any potential threats of xenophobic attacks.
Our early warning system is therefore in place.
Members of the public are also urged to report any suspicion of impending
attacks in their communities by calling 0860 POLICE (765423) or 10111.
You are our eyes and ears on the ground and you have the power to
safeguard our African brothers and sisters from this criminality.
One of the most valuable lessons from our history is that we can overcome
what is wrong with what is right, when we unite in our diversity.
Let us now stand united against xenophobia.
I thank you.
God bless.