[DEBATE] : ONGOING XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS, NEHAWU STATEMENT, Thursday, 15 May 2008

[Dominic Tweedie]

MEDIA STATEMENT – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


NEHAWU STATEMENT, Thursday, 15 May 2008


ONGOING XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS

Nehawu joins all progressive minded South Africans and ordinary people
in expressing their disgust at the current attacks against African
brothers and sisters from the North. What is happening in Alexandra is
completely unjustifiable, immoral and short sighted.

POVERTY UNEMPLOYMENT AND SLOW SERVICE DELIVERY

More than 40% of South Africans are unemployed. With the rise of food
prices, petrol and the unending waiting list for RDP houses, more and
more South Africans, particularly the working poor are getting
frustrated and angry. Given this anger and frustration it is easy for
both legal and illegal immigrants to be used as scapegoats to explain
some of the problems in our local communities. What's happening in
Alexandra, previously happened in Attredgville, Khayaletsha and some
of the Eastern Cape Townships. Attacks on immigrants reflect the
frustration and misdirected anger we have referred to.

INTERNATIONALISM AND NEW SOUTH AFRICA

South African liberation is primarily a product of struggles lead by
South Africans to liberate themselves from the Apartheid system.
However international solidarity is one central pillar in our victory
against Apartheid. Cubans flew 1000s of kilometers from their home to
contribute to the liberation of Namibia and South Africa. They
contributed to defending Angola and Mozambique.

Chris Hani stayed in Lesotho at some point during struggle against
Apartheid, ANC Head quarters and Umkhonto We Sizwe camps were in
Tanzania, Zambia and Angola. Many cadres stayed and studied in almost
all African countries particularly in the Southern African Countries.

In a nutshell, the victory of South African liberation is owed to
Cubans, Namibians Zimbabweans, Angolans, people from Lesotho, and
other Africans. Therefore there is no way we can justify the current
attacks of other Africans.

As we speak today we have more than 100 Cuban doctors working in South
African rural areas where South African doctors are unwilling to
serve. We have hundreds of South Africa students studying in Cuba.

We call on ANC Alliance and all democratic forces in Alexandra and
other affected communities to go on a massive visible and urgent
campaign to educate our people that their misery is in part caused by
Capitalism, the impact of neo-liberal GEAR and the growing
inequalities in society - not Africans from the north. Our people must
be made to understand sacrifices Cubans and other Africans made to our
liberation.   We unreservedly apologies to the victims of these
xenophobic attacks and for the pain and damaged caused to their lives.


Issued by NEHAWU Communications Department


For further information, please contact Priscilla Khumalo (NEHAWU
Media Liaison Officer) at 082 558 5973 or email:
Priscilla at nehawu.org.za

Visit NEHAWU website: www.nehawu.org.za


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