Yes ?there are deeper societal problems?Apartheid has bred intolerance,inhumane actions and violence for decades against the majority of the people in South Africa.They internalised these dark negative energies over time. People were dehumanise for hundreds of years by the powers that were ( the white people ?I?m a whity myself ) and then they got the vote?but getting the vote didn?t heal those horrible scars made over time?there was no meditation on what happened?no reflection on why it happened and no decent and thurough appology and restitution by the white community for what they have been part off ! Our country?s poor people feel marginalise, like there is no hope, because even now in the NEW South Africa their own black brothers and sisters (Goverment OFFICIALS) are stealing money ear marked for them ( the poor ).They sit in run down townships and see their brothers and sisters driving flashy cars and spending money on luxery?s while they struggle to put food on the table?how will you feel?-won?t you look for culprits.It?s eassier to blame your foreign brothers and sisters than your own brothers and sisters ! I have spend some time in townships and have come accross this simmering anger of people at the way that some of their brothers and sisters become rich over night by sceaming and cheating their way into power and money YET they can?t eat from the same meat-pots !!! So they become angry, because they know their brothers and sisters are OFTEN times corrupt and stealing the money that was suppose to make their lives better.

It?s complicated BUT it all boils down to the fact that we (brothers and sisters ) with power and money and knowledge that can help the poor is not doing a good job !!!!!!
We conviently forget them in our headless chase for more empty pleasure and braai?s ! You know?generaly speaking, I?m righ !! Off course there are some people trying?but it is not enough! We all have to become ACTIVE?ACTIVE in helping people to empower themself?ACTIVE in sharing knowledge and resources.
Yes these people ( our brothers and sisters ) needs education but firstly they need our love and togetherness?-it?s our duty and heritage to create a REAL Rainbow Nation ! Bishop Tutu?s vision was just that, a vision ! If you thought it was magicaly true just because he said it, then you didn?t life in South Africa conciously ( maybe unconciously )and is not living conciously now in SA, we have to make this happen.
WE CAN?-BUT WE NEED ?-THE MIGHTY MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS RAINBOW NATION TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DOING ENOUGH LOVE and then TO CHANGE THIS SITUATION !
My suggestion is the above, we can do it, by using mass communication media and INDIVIDUAL SWEAT AND GOODWILL !!!
As far as education goes we can?t stay headlessly secular in our schools and public life?-even science is not secular anymore?we have to start to HONOR the BIG SPIRIT ( God , Allah, Krishna, Jehovan, Nkosi call Him Her what you want ) PUBLICLY again?-our lost brothers and sisters need this knowledge !

Yes ?there are deeper societal problems?Apartheid has bred intolerance,inhumane actions and violence for decades against the majority of the people in South Africa.They internalised these dark negative energies over time. People were dehumanise for hundreds of years by the powers that were ( the white people ?I?m a whity myself ) and then they got the vote?but getting the vote didn?t heal those horrible scars made over time?there was no meditation on what happened?no reflection on why it happened and no decent and thurough appology and restitution by the white community for what they have been part off ! Our country?s poor people feel marginalise, like there is no hope, because even now in the NEW South Africa their own black brothers and sisters (Goverment OFFICIALS) are stealing money ear marked for them ( the poor ).They sit in run down townships and see their brothers and sisters driving flashy cars and spending money on luxery?s while they struggle to put food on the table?how will you feel?-won?t you look for culprits.It?s eassier to blame your foreign brothers and sisters than your own brothers and sisters ! I have spend some time in townships and have come accross this simmering anger of people at the way that some of their brothers and sisters become rich over night by sceaming and cheating their way into power and money YET they can?t eat from the same meat-pots !!! So they become angry, because they know their brothers and sisters are OFTEN times corrupt and stealing the money that was suppose to make their lives better.

It?s complicated BUT it all boils down to the fact that we (brothers and sisters ) with power and money and knowledge that can help the poor is not doing a good job !!!!!!
We conviently forget them in our headless chase for more empty pleasure and braai?s ! You know?generaly speaking, I?m righ !! Off course there are some people trying?but it is not enough! We all have to become ACTIVE?ACTIVE in helping people to empower themself?ACTIVE in sharing knowledge and resources.
Yes these people ( our brothers and sisters ) needs education but firstly they need our love and togetherness?-it?s our duty and heritage to create a REAL Rainbow Nation ! Bishop Tutu?s vision was just that, a vision ! If you thought it was magicaly true just because he said it, then you didn?t life in South Africa conciously ( maybe unconciously )and is not living conciously now in SA, we have to make this happen.
WE CAN?-BUT WE NEED ?-THE MIGHTY MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS RAINBOW NATION TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DOING ENOUGH LOVE and then TO CHANGE THIS SITUATION !
My suggestion is the above, we can do it, by using mass communication media and INDIVIDUAL SWEAT AND GOODWILL !!!
As far as education goes we can?t stay headlessly secular in our schools and public life?-even science is not secular anymore?we have to start to HONOR the BIG SPIRIT ( God , Allah, Krishna, Jehovan, Nkosi call Him Her what you want ) PUBLICLY again?-our lost brothers and sisters need this knowledge !

A very interesting perspective from PJ! I do agree that the ?RDP of the soul? campaign that was launched by Madiba should be reinvigorated, and then rolled out to ALL our communities. Somehow the issue of fostering human values seems to have fallen off the agenda, and the recent unconscienable attacks on our foregin brothers and sisters could be a result. I am not discounting the role that urban poverty plays and all the other factors, just suggesting that we may have lost the plot along the way. Any other perspectives from others?

A very interesting perspective from PJ! I do agree that the ?RDP of the soul? campaign that was launched by Madiba should be reinvigorated, and then rolled out to ALL our communities. Somehow the issue of fostering human values seems to have fallen off the agenda, and the recent unconscienable attacks on our foregin brothers and sisters could be a result. I am not discounting the role that urban poverty plays and all the other factors, just suggesting that we may have lost the plot along the way. Any other perspectives from others?

Yes, I agree. This situation is about so much more than xenophobia. And I think that the solution is not just education but actual, real action to change the lives of the people on the ground.

Yes, I agree. This situation is about so much more than xenophobia. And I think that the solution is not just education but actual, real action to change the lives of the people on the ground.

I am so overwhelmed by sadness for the ?foreigners? and so shocked that these attacks could have happened that I have been unable to clearly think and respond. I agree with the others that the root cause of the attacks is poverty and lack of service delivery by government. And of course we need better education and improved tolerance for ?the other?, both of which were denied by apartheid. But these are long-term solutions. In the short-term, mobs on the rampage baying for blood do not listen to long-term rationalisations. They may listen to and respect what their leaders say. Therefore, I suggest that political leaders hold meetings in hot spots to hold themselves accountable to their constituents and to allow constituents? voices to be heard. They should also address the issue of poverty and service delivery directly and outline plans they will undertake to ensure improved service delivery. They should give out their cell phone numbers to residents and police so that they can be called to intervene, either right now in attacks or in future in issues of poor service delivery. This is a political and economic issue and should be responded to as such. Can Imagine Durban arrange something like this?

What is required is a behaviour change and this is often a complex issue. In terms of changing behaviour, people need to be given good reasons for doing so, and a safe space to engage with that change. Leaders can play a role in giving people a reason to change by explaining how attacking ?the other? is apartheid in a new guise, and offering their support and phone numbers might constitute a ?safe space? or at least an alternative to mob violence.

I would also suggest that middle-class Durban residents start giving ? either their time or their money or shelter. Middle-class people have not been affected at all by the influx of ?foreigners? but poor people have: in terms of services, space, competition for scarce resources. Looking on in horror and divorcing yourself from the mobs is just another form of ?the other?. This is a South African problem that requires broad solutions and it is now time to give the resource you have the most of: money. And to give it generously.

I am so overwhelmed by sadness for the ?foreigners? and so shocked that these attacks could have happened that I have been unable to clearly think and respond. I agree with the others that the root cause of the attacks is poverty and lack of service delivery by government. And of course we need better education and improved tolerance for ?the other?, both of which were denied by apartheid. But these are long-term solutions. In the short-term, mobs on the rampage baying for blood do not listen to long-term rationalisations. They may listen to and respect what their leaders say. Therefore, I suggest that political leaders hold meetings in hot spots to hold themselves accountable to their constituents and to allow constituents? voices to be heard. They should also address the issue of poverty and service delivery directly and outline plans they will undertake to ensure improved service delivery. They should give out their cell phone numbers to residents and police so that they can be called to intervene, either right now in attacks or in future in issues of poor service delivery. This is a political and economic issue and should be responded to as such. Can Imagine Durban arrange something like this?

What is required is a behaviour change and this is often a complex issue. In terms of changing behaviour, people need to be given good reasons for doing so, and a safe space to engage with that change. Leaders can play a role in giving people a reason to change by explaining how attacking ?the other? is apartheid in a new guise, and offering their support and phone numbers might constitute a ?safe space? or at least an alternative to mob violence.

I would also suggest that middle-class Durban residents start giving ? either their time or their money or shelter. Middle-class people have not been affected at all by the influx of ?foreigners? but poor people have: in terms of services, space, competition for scarce resources. Looking on in horror and divorcing yourself from the mobs is just another form of ?the other?. This is a South African problem that requires broad solutions and it is now time to give the resource you have the most of: money. And to give it generously.

These acts are the acts of criminals. The crime has been here before - but now there is an excuse. Now every stab, hit and burning makes it into the media - where as a stabbing often does not get into the media unless it is interesting. Xenophobia is interesting and now it is a hot topic.
The government has not dealt with the issue of crime - now it is escalating. This morning?s headline in the witness spoke of more people leaving to go back ?home? and then on page two - we have an official statement that says the xenophobic attacks are under control. Laughable in its hypocrisy.
How convenient that so many foreigners are going home. Has the government not had a problem with our neighbours coming to the gold lined streets of JHB, has the government not been able to handle the problems of aliens and people seeking refuge in our ?peaceful by comparison? land?
A couple of casualties and bus loads of ?problems? leave the country.
The government has blamed the foreigners for many of their own sins and now the public is allowing this to happen!

These are the acts of criminals with black hearts ? there is no moving forward with a black heart.

RSA is often the last hope for some of the refugees ? how can we help them back to where they fled instead of keeping them safe and sorting out the problems we have here at home concerning crime.

And when the dagger turns on mixed national familles ? what then?

This must stop and the people and the government must stop it.

Apartheid was our last fight and now this is the fight of the new millennium ? I hope we don?t have to go to war with our own people over this.

These acts are the acts of criminals. The crime has been here before - but now there is an excuse. Now every stab, hit and burning makes it into the media - where as a stabbing often does not get into the media unless it is interesting. Xenophobia is interesting and now it is a hot topic.
The government has not dealt with the issue of crime - now it is escalating. This morning?s headline in the witness spoke of more people leaving to go back ?home? and then on page two - we have an official statement that says the xenophobic attacks are under control. Laughable in its hypocrisy.
How convenient that so many foreigners are going home. Has the government not had a problem with our neighbours coming to the gold lined streets of JHB, has the government not been able to handle the problems of aliens and people seeking refuge in our ?peaceful by comparison? land?
A couple of casualties and bus loads of ?problems? leave the country.
The government has blamed the foreigners for many of their own sins and now the public is allowing this to happen!

These are the acts of criminals with black hearts ? there is no moving forward with a black heart.

RSA is often the last hope for some of the refugees ? how can we help them back to where they fled instead of keeping them safe and sorting out the problems we have here at home concerning crime.

And when the dagger turns on mixed national familles ? what then?

This must stop and the people and the government must stop it.

Apartheid was our last fight and now this is the fight of the new millennium ? I hope we don?t have to go to war with our own people over this.

Extremely noteworthy comments from PJ van der Walt indeed !
We need our leaders to start leading, and set examples to all the people of this country, in order to achieve peace and goodwill to all.

Extremely noteworthy comments from PJ van der Walt indeed !
We need our leaders to start leading, and set examples to all the people of this country, in order to achieve peace and goodwill to all.

I might not be a South African

But I?m black, my skin is the same as yours
My colour is the same as yours
My genes are African, nothing but African
When your leaders were beaten by whites
I was there to shelter them
I was patient with them
I offered them food, shelter,
Most of all, I offered them protection

I might be a South African

I can?t speak Zulu, cause I?m Vhenda
I can?t speak Zulu, cause I?m Shangaan
I don?t know what an elbow is in Zulu
As much as you don?t know it in my language
Since when was Zulu the only South African language?
Yes?????I?m not from Gauteng
I was not born here, but I?m South African
Where should I go if you beat me
I?m not beating your father, mother, brother or sister who works at my area in the mines
I?m not calling them makwerekwere though they can?t speak my language.

I might be dark in complexion

I might have the foreigners looks
I might have the foreigners body structure
Now I am scared to go to the only place that I call home
I?m scared of working down the street without my ID
Whites wanted me to do that centuries ago
Now you, my black brother is acting white

Why should you Black South Africans do this?

What makes you think that you better than me?
Who told you that I?m responsible for your unemployment?
Who told you that I?m less human
If I need to go back to Vhenda??..let all the Zulus go back to KZN
Let all the Tswana?s go back to Botswana
Let all the Sotho?s go back to Lesotho
Let all the Ndebele?s go back to Kwandebele
Let all the Xhosa?s go back to Eastern Cape
Yes????let all the Swati?s go back to Swaziland

Is this not ignorance?

Your unemployment is your responsibility
Use your intellect
Get up and work
Let education empower you
Seek humanity

Before 1994 you blamed whites
Now you are blaming me
Who are you going to blame after chasing me away?
Who are you going to blame after killing me?

For what it?s worth???????..

I?m sorry I was not born here
I?m sorry I can?t speak Zulu
I?m sorry for being too dark for your Joburg
I?m sorry for cleaning the toilets you don?t want to clean
I?m sorry for doing your garden
I?m sorry for repairing your shoes
I?m sorry for protecting your leaders while they were in Exile
Yes???????what you call Exile???..is my country
And most of all??.I?m sorry for building South African infrastructure

Please my brothers let there be peace and prosperity amongst black African people.

Written by a Teary Black African ???????.
With this above It is clear that there are more deeper sociatal issues involved and We need to ACT! as communities, to solve these problems.

I might not be a South African

But I?m black, my skin is the same as yours
My colour is the same as yours
My genes are African, nothing but African
When your leaders were beaten by whites
I was there to shelter them
I was patient with them
I offered them food, shelter,
Most of all, I offered them protection

I might be a South African

I can?t speak Zulu, cause I?m Vhenda
I can?t speak Zulu, cause I?m Shangaan
I don?t know what an elbow is in Zulu
As much as you don?t know it in my language
Since when was Zulu the only South African language?
Yes?????I?m not from Gauteng
I was not born here, but I?m South African
Where should I go if you beat me
I?m not beating your father, mother, brother or sister who works at my area in the mines
I?m not calling them makwerekwere though they can?t speak my language.

I might be dark in complexion

I might have the foreigners looks
I might have the foreigners body structure
Now I am scared to go to the only place that I call home
I?m scared of working down the street without my ID
Whites wanted me to do that centuries ago
Now you, my black brother is acting white

Why should you Black South Africans do this?

What makes you think that you better than me?
Who told you that I?m responsible for your unemployment?
Who told you that I?m less human
If I need to go back to Vhenda??..let all the Zulus go back to KZN
Let all the Tswana?s go back to Botswana
Let all the Sotho?s go back to Lesotho
Let all the Ndebele?s go back to Kwandebele
Let all the Xhosa?s go back to Eastern Cape
Yes????let all the Swati?s go back to Swaziland

Is this not ignorance?

Your unemployment is your responsibility
Use your intellect
Get up and work
Let education empower you
Seek humanity

Before 1994 you blamed whites
Now you are blaming me
Who are you going to blame after chasing me away?
Who are you going to blame after killing me?

For what it?s worth???????..

I?m sorry I was not born here
I?m sorry I can?t speak Zulu
I?m sorry for being too dark for your Joburg
I?m sorry for cleaning the toilets you don?t want to clean
I?m sorry for doing your garden
I?m sorry for repairing your shoes
I?m sorry for protecting your leaders while they were in Exile
Yes???????what you call Exile???..is my country
And most of all??.I?m sorry for building South African infrastructure

Please my brothers let there be peace and prosperity amongst black African people.

Written by a Teary Black African ???????.
With this above It is clear that there are more deeper sociatal issues involved and We need to ACT! as communities, to solve these problems.

The blame for this dreadful Xenophobia that has rocked our land should be laid at the door of the polititians.
They have failed to deliver and have wasted money: three cars for three politicians that cost R!.4 million when people are still in shacks and children are going hugry, a mayoral ?do? that costs R600.000, a wall for Mbeki that costs R3 million, a jet plane that costs more than R54 million, 73 000 babies died last year due to malnutrition and related diseases alone. They have not done what they promised and blame it on history. They are too immature to take responsibilty for their lack of abilities and lack of integrityThey have been living the high life.To divert peoples? attention away from the reatily of incompetence and corruption and their insatiable greed they keep holding up the race card, divide and rule. Who in the Government Camp preaches the ?Rainbow Nation?The polititians are there for- power so that they can get perks of riches and security. They care not a jot nor a tittle for the people of my land.

The blame for this dreadful Xenophobia that has rocked our land should be laid at the door of the polititians.
They have failed to deliver and have wasted money: three cars for three politicians that cost R!.4 million when people are still in shacks and children are going hugry, a mayoral ?do? that costs R600.000, a wall for Mbeki that costs R3 million, a jet plane that costs more than R54 million, 73 000 babies died last year due to malnutrition and related diseases alone. They have not done what they promised and blame it on history. They are too immature to take responsibilty for their lack of abilities and lack of integrityThey have been living the high life.To divert peoples? attention away from the reatily of incompetence and corruption and their insatiable greed they keep holding up the race card, divide and rule. Who in the Government Camp preaches the ?Rainbow Nation?The polititians are there for- power so that they can get perks of riches and security. They care not a jot nor a tittle for the people of my land.

How about naming one major street Anti-Xenophobia !
and how about naming our streets also after the Ideals of the freedom fighters?this will be more explanatory . For example lets call some streets FREEDOM others RESPONSIBILITY?LOVE?COURAGE?-DO RIGHT HUMANITY HUMILITY?-PEACE?-GOODWILL?-TOLERANCE?SADNESS?JOY?DEMOCRACY?-COMRADE, the list can go on and on ! At least these words convey high ideals that can make people think and meditate about what they mean ! This will start to address the deeper societal problems by focusing peoples attention on positive states of being !

How about naming one major street Anti-Xenophobia !
and how about naming our streets also after the Ideals of the freedom fighters?this will be more explanatory . For example lets call some streets FREEDOM others RESPONSIBILITY?LOVE?COURAGE?-DO RIGHT HUMANITY HUMILITY?-PEACE?-GOODWILL?-TOLERANCE?SADNESS?JOY?DEMOCRACY?-COMRADE, the list can go on and on ! At least these words convey high ideals that can make people think and meditate about what they mean ! This will start to address the deeper societal problems by focusing peoples attention on positive states of being !

Jean

While I can appreciate your frustration with politics, the government has also done an awful lot of good in the last 14 years. This is perhaps not publicized enough.

Houses have been built, health care and sanitation provided to people who previously could not access it, and a substantial amount of infrastructure (road, telecommunications, power) built.

I do agree, however, that their is more at play here than just xenophobia and socio-economic conditions have contributed to the situation.

Jean

While I can appreciate your frustration with politics, the government has also done an awful lot of good in the last 14 years. This is perhaps not publicized enough.

Houses have been built, health care and sanitation provided to people who previously could not access it, and a substantial amount of infrastructure (road, telecommunications, power) built.

I do agree, however, that their is more at play here than just xenophobia and socio-economic conditions have contributed to the situation.

PJ - I your idea about the street names but do you think it will realistically make any difference? I wonder if it wouldn?t be more beneficial to get these themes written into popular soapies or something like that.

PJ - I your idea about the street names but do you think it will realistically make any difference? I wonder if it wouldn?t be more beneficial to get these themes written into popular soapies or something like that.