PETITION TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT

TO  : South African High Commissioner

FROM  : Concerned citizens of Republic of Malawi

Cc : The State President of Republic of Malawi, His Excellency Prof. Mutharika

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

                        Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
        
                        The Speaker of National Assembly

                        Chief Justice of Malawi Judiciary

                        Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security 

                        Malawi diplomatic community
     

We, the people of Malawi, stand in solidarity with all Africans to condemn in the strongest terms the current resurgence of xenophobia in the Republic of South Africa. In 2008, we came to this embassy to demand a stop to acts of wanton violence on migrant workers from the SADC region including Malawi. 

Your predecessor promised us that “never again!” would fellow Africans be subjected to such cruel and degrading acts of violence. Sadly, today we stand here to see history repeating itself. Xenophobia is the new apartheid, and it threatens to undo the gains that South Africa has made after the end of apartheid. It threatens the human rights of all (especially migrants) and the flourishing of true free and tolerant New South Africa.

We call upon the Government of South Africa to urgently remove the structural inequalities that are rooted in apartheid and white privilege. We believe these are the main causes of worsening economic inequality and marginalisation. These inequities were not instituted by migrants, and will not automatically disappear if the migrant population decreases. The most sustainable way to address the economic frustrations felt by many South Africans is to adopt policies that reduce the inequalities, and create programs that empower ordinary South Africans.

We urge the Government of South Africa to categorically condemn any individual or institution that encourages the widespread use of xenophobic, aggressive and militarised rhetoric as a trend of blaming foreigners for social ills.

We appeal to civil society organizations in South Africa to promote the rights of migrants, by contributing to civic and human rights education in order to enhance values of equality.

We call upon the Government of South Africa, in line with provisions in their Constitution and International legal obligations, to protect the rights of all people living in South Africa and to address the root causes of xenophobia.

We demand that the South African Police Service and the South African Human Rights Commission thoroughly investigate the xenophobic attacks and hold all those responsible accountable. We note with disappointment that perpetrators of previous xenophobic violence were not held accountable for the killing of more than 60 people across South Africa in 2008.

We wish to remind the South African Government of how other African countries including Zimbabwe, sacrificed their socio-economic and political resources in solidarity with South African liberation movements to bring an end to evil apartheid. In light of these extreme sacrifices by African people, we expect the South African authorities and its citizens to reciprocate the solidarity through Ubuntu and shunning of Xenophobia.

We are extremely disgusted by the reckless xenophobic utterances by senior political figures such as Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu and President Zuma’s son Edward that continue to incite violence against foreign nationals.

We are concerned by the South African Government’s very slow reaction to the rapidly spreading wave of xenophobic violence.

We call upon the South African Government to:

1. Be proactive and protect the rights of all people living in South Africa, in line with provisions in their Constitution and international legal obligations and address the root causes of xenophobia.

2. Thoroughly investigate the xenophobic attacks and hold all those responsible accountable. The pictures of perpetrators are all over social media. We demand that the South Africa Government identifies these people and are brought to book in a court of law.

3. Ensure that the South African Human Rights Commission investigates xenophobia comments reportedly made by the Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, Edward Zuma and Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu and take appropriate action.

4. Ensure that the South African government effect compensations to the victims of Xenophobia.

If these appeals and demands are not met within 48 hours, we shall have no choice but to call for a boycott of South African products and businesses in Malawi.

Signed for and on behalf of concerned citizens of Malawi;

Billy Mayaya   ………………………………………… Human Rights Defender

Gift Trapence   ……………..…………………………. Centre for Development of People

Robert Mkwezalamba  ………………………………………… Human Rights Consultative

Committee

Lucky Mbewe    ..……………………………………….  Youth Empowerment and Civic

Education,

Timothy Mtambo      ………………………………………… Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation,

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>