SOWETO DECLARATION
Press Release 30 November 2010

We the participants attending the Action Support Centre Anti-Xenophobia Community Indaba held in Soweto on 30 November 2010 commit to develop an integrated strategy for (re) integration of non-nationals into the South African community.

Are deeply concerned about the economic, social and political environment existing within the continent and the slow pace at which the SADC and AU state parties are making efforts to resolve these issues.

We acknowledge that there are protocols of the AU and SADC which commit leaders to the processes of regional integration including the facilitation of the movement of people between our countries, to eradicate poverty, defend human rights, promote the rule of law and good governance;

We condemn the instigation of Afro-phobic and xenophobic violence that sets Africans against each other and negates the spirit and values of Ubuntu to which we all subscribe;

We emphasise the importance of inclusive processes that bring together all stakeholders including government (national, provincial and local), CSOs, NGOs, youth, faith based movements, social movements, community members both South African and non-nationals

We therefore reiterate on what many of us believe and stand for, that South Africa belongs to all who live in it and commit ourselves to mobilise all stakeholders toward a Programme of Action which will include amongst other activities:

Suggestions for a Plan of Action

1. Audit of what has been done after 2008 violence, what worked and what didn’t and what remains outstanding
   
2. Insist that Department of Home Affairs produce reliable stats on numbers of refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa
   
   
3. Work with trade unions to participate in training/mass education of their members, particularly in the public sector (health workers, education workers, immigration officers etc) and to approach COSATU leadership on this
   
   
4. Monitor the Zimbabwe permit process so that lessons can be learnt, particularly as the government aims to extend the process to other SADC nationals
   
   
5. Advocate for proper time to be allowed for the Zimbabwe permit process and for proper information to be disseminated on the process (both to Zimbabweans and South Africans to dispell myths and misconceptions)
   
   
6. Work with government on proposals for refugee and asylum seeker reception facilities such a orientation centres, host families etc
   
   
7. Initiate cultural programmes that develop and make meaningful our understanding of each other;
   
   
8. Share experiences between communities so that we can learn best practice from each other;
   
   
9. Work with communities to understand issues of migration – workshops at grassroots level,
   with community members, political parties and local councillors and traditional leaders including religious leaders.

Organisations represented

ACTION Support Centre-ASC (Organizer/Convener), COSATU, NEHAWU, SACC, PSI, SACP, ANC Women’s League, ANC Education Desk, SAHRC, ANC YL, OSISA, Refuge Help Desk, Soweto Concerned Residence, SECC, ADF, CorMSA, Wits Forced Migration Studies, Alexander Community Policing Forum, MDC-SA, Albayaan Islamic, APF, Militia/DMPSP, Ama-Afrika Aqotho, HURISA, MYN, CDFNML, Somali Community Service-North West branch, Somali Association in South Africa, ZAPU, Lesbian and Gay Equality, Usizo Lwanamhla, Creative Writers and Arts Workshop, Orlando West Women’s forum, Jesuits Refugee Services