The Siyafana Sonke Action Campaign has strongly condemned the ongoing violence in Durban linked to the March and March Movement protests. The campaign's KwaZulu-Natal coordinator, Yeshelen Govender, stated that the protests had crossed the line from legitimate demonstrations into criminality, with foreign nationals bearing the brunt of the violence. The protests began after a Constitutional Court ruling on asylum seekers.
Govender argued that the concerns raised by the March and March Movement regarding asylum seekers were largely unfounded. He pointed out that asylum seekers would not become South African citizens, would not be allowed to vote, and would not have access to social grants. Govender also noted that the Department of Home Affairs had previously announced that barely 1% of asylum applications were granted.
The Siyafana Sonke Action Campaign is an anti-xenophobia and civil society movement advocating for the rights, safety, and dignity of refugees and foreign nationals. Govender raised concerns about the ability of police in KwaZulu-Natal to contain the violence, citing the geographical spread and intensity of the unrest. He warned that the South African National Defence Force could not remain deployed indefinitely.
Govender called for police units from other provinces to assist their KwaZulu-Natal counterparts in containing the unrest. He stressed that investigations should extend beyond the most recent incidents to include alleged crimes committed over at least the past year. Govender also questioned why organisations opposing the Constitutional Court process had not participated in the legal proceedings to present their objections.
The protests have raised broader concerns about the erosion of constitutional protections and the authority of the judiciary. Govender maintained that the legitimate grievances and suffering of South African citizens were being used to advance the personal agendas of leaders within xenophobic movements. He warned that anti-immigrant rhetoric risked normalising cruelty towards foreign nationals.
Govender described an incident where houses were set alight during recent attacks in Durban, with at least five children inside. Local humanitarians had to locate the children and collect them from places where they had fled for safety. He described the incident as unconscionable and called on the South African government to fulfil its constitutional obligations by ensuring the safety of everyone living in the country.
Govender urged the government to provide safety for all residents, regardless of nationality, and to hold those responsible for violence, intimidation, and destruction accountable. He emphasised that the Constitution and the Constitutional Court remained essential safeguards against human rights abuses and discrimination. The government has a responsibility to protect both South African citizens and foreign nationals.
Key points
- Siyafana Sonke Action Campaign condemns violence linked to Durban protests, citing xenophobic agenda.
- Protests have crossed the line from legitimate demonstrations into criminality, with foreign nationals bearing the brunt of the violence.
- Government urged to protect all residents, regardless of nationality.
