Xenophobic camps were set up across the country in 2008 when xenophobic attacks broke out in informal settlements in South Africa
Civil society groups across the country are fighting xenophobia and violence - one signature at a time.
The groups have launched a campaign to collect one million signed pledges against xenophobia, intolerance, intimidation and violence in South Africa.
This follows a number of xenophobic attacks and violent outbursts across the country that occurred shortly after the World Cup ended, with many informal mixed-nationality communities under pressure due to poor service delivery and joblessness.
The Scalabrini Centre and People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression and Poverty - which are organisations that assist refugees and asylum seekers - together with Black Sash, an organisation that assists the public on the legal front, and gender and human rights group Sonke Gender Justice Network, are the driving forces behind the Unite as One Campaign.
The nation-wide campaign kicked off in Cape Town on Mandela Day, 18 July, and will run until African Human Rights Day on 17 October.
Black Sash Advocacy Programme Manager Nkosikhulule Nyembezi said the campaign hoped to build on the incredible sense of African unity experienced during the World Cup.
"We have proved we are a winning nation who can achieve anything if we work together. Now we must work to win human dignity and protection for all those who seek shelter in our land," Nyembezi added.
A website - www.uniteasone.org.za - and a facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/unite.as.one - have been set up. The public can sign the pledge online or download copies and circulate among them their friends and colleagues.
It is hoped that people signing the pledge would be committed to reporting acts of violence or intimidation against foreign nationals.
SA – The Good News via BuaNews
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