To:
The Gauteng Provincial Government
The South African Civil Society - people

We the people of South Africa, Gauteng in particular, the:
Catholic Archdiocese of Johannesburg
Methodist Church
United Congregational Church
Council of African Instituted Church
Catholic Justice & Peace

and other Faith-Based Organisations in Gauteng gather here on this day, 31 May 2008 to condemn the horrific and brutal attacks on non-nationals of South Africa.

More than two weeks ago, xenophobic attacks in the Alexander Township dominated headlines and since then several other incidents of xenophobic attacks in other areas of the Province have also been reported.

We have noted the escalation of xenophobia since South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994.

In March 2008 a spate of xenophobic attacks around Pretoria and Atteridgeville left at least four people dead and hundreds homeless. These attacks spread to areas in Johannesburg, starting in Alexander Township, North of Johannesburg and spreading to the East of Gauteng, and the rest of the country.

We are concerned that the South Africa Local Governemnt failed to anticipate these xenophobic threats starting 14 years ago. The local government failed to educate ordinary South Africans about human rights issues, especially the importance and acceptance of foreigners in our country.

We have been very aware of the tardiness with which the Department of Home Affairs has been operating. There has been very limited just, effective and efficient ways to document immigrants – resulting in violence, exploitation and ethnic conflict.

Together, we are marching in a spirit of solidarity to support our brothers and sisters who have been violently and brutally murdered, displaced, dispossessed and intimidated by fellow South Africans. South African civil society must observe just and peaceful ways of making their problems known and accessing rights.

We strongly condemn this reign of terror that has resulted in many deaths, savage beatings, burning of property and heartless human right abuses. Human dignity and the common good are fundamental to every human being, regardless of ethnic background, culture or religion and must be respected.

We are calling on our Gauteng Local Government, Gauteng Religious groupings and the South African Community to put an end to this horror and find peaceful ways to deal with social concerns.

We therefore commit to:

Work toward creating a climate in which respect for human rights is embedded in our social relationships with our brothers and sisters from other countries

Create goodwill within civil society, Government and church communities to help identify asylum seekers, economic and other migrants so as to appropriately take corrective actions to address the underlying causes of xenophobia and consolidate our democracy

Ensure that the SA Government establishes a policy framework that translates our human rights obligations under our national constitution to protect and promote the rights of all people living within our boundaries Continue to lobby the Government for effective and efficient delivery of Social Services

Make it clear that

violence will never be tolerated and must stop

poverty must be reduced immediately

Signed on behalf of Faith-Based organizations present and other Religious groupings who would support the above.


Bishop Paul Verryn: ……………………Fr. John Finlayson: …………………………

Received on behalf of the Government from Civil Society


MEC for Gauteng Local Government, Ms Qedani Mahlangu: ………………………...