As Ubunye bama Hostela Nezakhiwo Zawo (UbHNZ) leaders, we are deeply
sorry and distressed by the xenophobic attacks on our brothers and
sisters from other African countries, some of which have been carried
out by members of our communities. We distance ourselves from these
acts of anger and hatred that destroy the peace and cultural tolerance
our organisation has worked for so long to achieve. We wish to
emphasise that UbHNZ is NOT behind these attacks and condemn them in
the strongest possible terms. Anyone, including hostel dwellers, who
participate in xenophobic violence must be speedily arrested by the
police. We also call on the police to properly investigate crimes that
are being carried out under this darkness called xenophobia.

We continue to urge our hostel communities to turn their faces from
this violence and close their ears to calls for hostel dwellers to
take up weapons against foreigners ­ this is not our way.  We also beg
that we are not all judged by the crimes of a few ­ hostel dwellers
are NOT all xenophobic killers and looters ­ foreign nationals are NOT
all criminals. We remind our communities of UbHNZ¹s Constitution,
adopted by our members in 2006, which states: ³We remain mindful of
the tragic history that saw many of our hostels as sites of brutal
violence throughout the country and as such weŠ embrace the hard won
democracy of our country, commit to the upholding of the constitution
of the Republic of South Africa as the supreme law of the land, as
well as embodying human decency and ubuntu in our spirits.²

We are deeply saddened and embarrassed by the long-term damage this
has done to our country and our relationships with our neighbours. We
urge those engaging in these mindless acts to look long at their
actions and remember the South African artists, sports players and all
our people in other African countries. We must look too at the foreign
doctors who have come to our country to help heal our sick. We need to
think carefully about all these things before we reach for our
weapons.

UbHNZ, as representatives of the grassroots community, call on the
senior leaders of our country to come down to our level, see our
suffering and work with us to get our people to lay down their
weapons.  We call on government ­ just as we did in 2008 and again in
2010 and 2011, and even in January this year - to roll out education
and conflict resolution programmes to encourage discussion and greater
understanding between our communities so that we may work out our
differences. UbHNZ will continue to promote peaceful solutions and
ethnic tolerance to our communities.

In an attempt to find solutions to the xenophobia and opportunistic
criminal acts, Councilor Bonga Zondo will be meeting the KwaMashu
Hostel community this Sunday 19 April at 10am at the Rotary Stadium,
KwaMashu. As a strictly non-political grassroots community
organization ­ UbHNZ has been invited to assist the Councilor to bring
peace to this community. We will go with open hands ­ we will work
with anyone to end this violence.

Let us stop blaming each other for now we must deal with the immediate
emergency. We plead for all leaders with vision and peace in their
hearts to help us calm our people.

WE MUST REMEMBER, WE ARE ALL AFRICAN - WE ALL BLEED THE SAME COLOUR BLOOD

 

Issued by Ubunye bama Hostela Nezakhiwo Zawo