Zwelinzima Vavi couldn’t have said it better when addressing media ahead of the “People’s March Against Xenophobia” planned for this Thursday (30,000 expected to march). He called on all trade unions, youth organisations, every religious organisation, every business person, every woman’s organisation, every organisation that represented foreign nationals, and every person who loved “humanity and every person who has been disgusted by what is happening in our country in the past week” to express their collective outrage at the march.
“We are the children of Chief Albert Luthuli. We are the children of Nelson Mandela. The people who have been committing the murders do not represent our values… they do not represent the majority of South Africa,” he said.
Over the past few weeks, authorities have been battling sporadic attacks on foreign nationals within South Africa. People have been violently attacked, shops have been looted + torched, and South Africa’s reputation as a haven of tolerance for the tired, the poor, the huddled masses of a turbulent continent has been shaken. With the unemployment rate at 24%, many South Africans accuse foreign nationals of taking jobs from locals. Official data suggests there are about two million foreign nationals in South Africa, but some estimates put the number much higher.


EFF leader Julius Malema said in most cases Xenophobic attacks are spontaneous. The Desmond + Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation said this week; “The fabric of the nation is splitting at the seams; its precious nucleus – our moral core – is being ruptured.”
A recent murder of Mozambican Emmanuel Sithole has sparked nationwide reaction. Photographs of Sithole being attacked while pleading for his life were published in The Sunday Times. It’s understood the Mozambican was selling cigarettes on the side of a road when he was confronted by four men. An argument ensued when the group took the goods without paying. Authorities on Sunday offered a reward of up to R100,000 for information related to his murder.
President Jacob Zuma has called together all stakeholders + leaders in government, to get together on Wednesday and discuss the Xenophobic violence in the country.
“Terrible picture… I am sure even people who live in very rough townships or areas have never seen such a scene generally,” Zuma told reporters at a briefing at Luthuli House in Johannesburg. “And I was sitting and I was saying to myself: What are we telling the world about ourselves?” Zuma said.
Social Media is using the hashtag #NoToXenophobia to share opinion about these attacks + stand together against Xenophobia. There is a silent vigil planned for tonight (21 April) at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg from 7-9pm.
What The Conversation Looks Like On Twitter
As I have long been saying, South Africa is a total – and very dangerous – mess. Just watch the evening news (when not talking weather).
@realDonaldTrump you are talking about things you know nothing about so rather be still.
— Tebogo_beasti (@Tebogo_VC) April 20, 2015
Emmanuel Sithole has left behind two wives and three young children in Mozambique. #Xenophobia #EWN — Alex Eliseev (@alexeliseev) April 21, 2015
Join us tonight and light a candle against Xenophobia between 7 + 9pm. Tweet a pic using #NoToXenophobia pic.twitter.com/VbD6LYp2Oa
— KFM (@KFMza) April 21, 2015
Xenophobia:6,000 Nigerians will lose their jobs if MTN is shut down http://t.co/n6lzDFH9TH — getgripng (@getgrip2) April 21, 2015
Current situation outside the #AlexandraMagistrateCourt #NoToXenophobia #NotInOurName pic.twitter.com/1nFIJyLCJq
— ANC Info Feed (@MyANC_) April 21, 2015
#LeadSAVigil It’s all systems go for 7pm today. Please join us and let’s unite and say #NoToXenophobia RT pic.twitter.com/Uyq8shxZfN — Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) April 21, 2015
#NoToXenophobia Students at UJ are singing and marching “for the foreign people”. sound echoes through lecture halls. pic.twitter.com/pLnLogt92K
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) April 20, 2015
Earlier when @jsomethingmusic @MiCasaMusic took a stand at the Luthuli House to say #NoToXenophobia pic.twitter.com/54BnH2OtBS — People Magazine SA (@People_SA) April 20, 2015
Gratitude & Respect to paramedics treating everyone, everywhere & any time during unrest! #NoToXenophobia. pic.twitter.com/c3rSvkOalw
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) April 18, 2015
Stand up and do the right thing! Say #NoToXenophobia. cc. @lead_sa pic.twitter.com/a3lSRVCesS — Ster-Kinekor (@sterkinekor) April 17, 2015
#NotoXenophobia 500 Malawians and 500 Zimbabweans being repatriated by their Govts out of S Africa. Other nations may follow suit
— Alex Crawford (@AlexCrawfordSky) April 17, 2015
#NoToXenophobia & #LeadSA @lead_sa @ProudlySA Tweet your pic now. pic.twitter.com/VFtaEH8UsE
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) April 15, 2015
SA @jamesoatway has captured #xenophobia in a way that will stick in our minds for a long time @SundayTimesZApic.twitter.com/nZ8vDqOTfn
— Yasin Ansari (@yasinansari) April 19, 2015