A public discussion aimed at unpacking the causes of xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment will take place at Southfield Primary School on Thursday evening, as hundreds of foreign nationals remain displaced following recent protests in parts of the Western Cape.
The event, organised by the Special Action Committee for Education (SAC-E), comes after migrants from countries including Malawi and Mozambique were forced to flee their homes in areas such as Kleinmond, Gansbaai and Stanford amid incidents of intimidation and unrest.
Speaking to VOC News, SAC-E’s Farrell Hunter said the discussion seeks to address misconceptions about immigration and unemployment while encouraging communities to confront the deeper causes of discrimination.
“I think it’s been framed around the economic challenges people face in South Africa, particularly unemployment, but that is a misplaced assessment,” Hunter said.
He argued that xenophobia is rooted in a broader history of exclusion and prejudice.
“As black people in this country, discrimination and othering are experiences we know all too well. Now we are doing exactly that to other people in this country, and it’s really sad,” he said.
Hunter added that public education remains critical in addressing anti-immigrant sentiment.
“We need to unpack this. We need to understand where it comes from and how we deal with it,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Overstrand Municipality’s Incident Command Centre continues to coordinate support for displaced foreign nationals. Municipal Manager Dr Dean O’Neill said local facilities have been opened as temporary shelters for people who are unable to return home because of safety concerns.
“Municipal facilities have therefore been made available as temporary places of safety for individuals who are unable to return to their homes due to fear, intimidation, and the need for support,” O’Neill said.
More than 400 people are currently being accommodated in temporary shelters across Kleinmond, Gansbaai and Stanford, while authorities, including the Department of Home Affairs and SAPS, continue verification and support operations.
Photo: Facebook/ Overstrand Municipality
