The Nelson Mandela Foundation is appalled at the violence directed at foreign nationals in various parts of our country.
“We join the rest of South Africa in deploring this violence. Whatever the underlying causes, they have to be addressed, but this senseless violence is not a solution,” said Achmat Dangor, the chief executive officer of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Last week our sister organisation, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF), visited Alexandra to assess the needs of the children living amidst the conflict. As the violence spread to more areas, the NMCF has increased its efforts to provide assistance.
“In the last six to seven years, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund has been working with partners integrating refugee communities with South African communities. We will continue our work with our partners on the ground,” said Bongi Mkhabela, chief executive officer of the NMCF.
When he accepted the Freedom of the City of Tshwane, last week, our Founder Nelson Mandela called on South Africans not to “descend into destructive divisiveness no matter what the considerations are”.
“Remember the horror from which we come; never forget the greatness of a nation that could overcome its divisions,” he said.
Mr Mandela first lived in Alexandra when he came to Johannesburg in 1941. Speaking at a rally there in 1995 he said:
“During the years I lived here, the people of Alexandra ignored tribal and ethnic distinctions. Instead of being Xhosas, or Sothos, or Zulus, or Shangaans, we were Alexandrans. We were one people, and we undermined the distinctions that the apartheid government tried so hard to impose. It saddens and angers me to see the rising hatred of foreigners. We had a legacy of unity and solidarity here. This great legacy has been undermined by recent attacks on foreigners some of whom are naturalised citizens. We cannot blame other people for our troubles.”