Press Statement Xenophobic Attacks PASSOP wholeheartedly condemns the xenophobic attacks on Zimbabweans staying in the De Doorns community, which commenced this weekend and peaked early this morning. PASSOP representatives on the ground have confirmed that more than 2400 Zimbabweans have been displaced as a result of the violence. Local residents are calling the Zimbabweans ‘job stealers’ and demanding that they leave the community. Police Response PASSOP is abhorred at the manner in which police stood by and observed the attacks, failing to protect both the Zimbabwean people and their belongings, essentially evicting the foreign nationals. At the time this statement was issued, there was absolutely no police presence—not a single officer—at the site where they the displaced persons are meant to be protected. PASSOP demands that the government not only increase the police presence in the area, but ensure that the police react swiftly and decisively to ensure the security of the displaced Zimbabweans and prevent further attacks. Government Response PASSOP further condemns the fact that government has not engaged the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in making decisions about their future. We are shocked that we, as an NGO representing refugees and IDPs, were also denied participation in meetings to decide the future of foreign nationals. We are appalled that there is no coordinated response from government, and that there is instead chaos. The displaced are moving around within DeDoorns haphazardly, without information or direction, creating further threat to their personal and collective security. We urgently call on the government to engage NGOs and civil society to address this issue. PASSOP Calls Urgent Meeting of Stakeholders To this end, PASSOP calls all civil society actors, community organizations, NGOs, potential volunteers, and all other interested parties to a meeting at 4pm tomorrow, 18 November 2009, at PASSOP’s office at 7 Kenilworth Road, Kenilworth. All interested stakeholders are welcome. Please contact Gill at 0217624638 or 0835360242 as soon as possible if you plan to attend. PASSOP Announces Press Conference PASSOP will host a press conference at 11am tomorrow, 18 November 2009, at PASSOP’s office at 7 Kenilworth Road, Kenilworth. Members of the displaced community will be present to report on and express their grievances regarding the situation in DeDoorns. URGENT Call for Humanitarian Assistance PASSOP appeals urgently for humanitarian assistance in accommodating the needs of the 2400 displaced Zimbabweans, who are without food, sufficient water, sanitation services, and shelter. We plan to set up a temporary satellite office in DeDoorns to coordinate a humanitarian response to the attacks. All types of assistance are welcome: volunteer services, monetary donations, food aid, personal care items, and assistance transporting donations are all urgently needed. Anyone wishing to donate items can drop them at St. Joseph’s school on Belmont Road in Rondebosch. To coordinate donating money, time, or services, contact Gill at 0217624638 or 0835360242 as soon as possible. Further Enquiries For comments or further enquiries, please contact PASSOP Chairperson Braam Hanekom at 0832561140 for further enquiries. About PASSOP PASSOP (People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression, and Poverty) is a Cape Town-based human rights advocacy organization specializing in refugee issues. For more information on PASSOP, please refer to our website at www.passop.co.za. 7 KENILWORTH ROAD, KENILWORTH, CAPE TOWN, RSA, TEL: 021 762 4638. FAX: 086 517 6812.
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PASSOP Reports from DeDoorns:
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written by Mweni Tafara, November 17, 2009
Can you clarify "foreingers" in 'They still dont represent the majority of South Africans attitude towards foreigners though. '
By foreigners I suppose you mean the Dutch from Holland. A majority of South Africans are bantu (Xhosa, Zulu, Venda, Sotho, Ndebele), I am not too sure of what you imply by foreigners.
written by mokoena, November 18, 2009
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Nevertheless Bantu education has killed some citizens of South Africa's brains. They still dont represent the majority of South Africans attitude towards foreigners though.