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Johanesburg - Business sector stakeholders and organised labour discussed the root causes of the recent xenophobic attacks at a meeting with Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Daff), General Bheki Cele.
At the meeting it was mentioned that some of these root causes, such as the perception that immigrants take jobs and do not contribute to the economy of the country, are false.
The meeting also aimed to find ways to prevent the violent attacks from spreading into the farming communities where foreign nationals are also employed.
READ: Xenophobic attacks a big worry for business
Present at the meeting were representatives of, among others, the African Farmers' Association of South Africa (Afasa), The Building and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (Bawusa), AgriSA, the National Emergent Red Meat Producers' Organisation (Nerpo) and the National African Farmers' Union (Nafu).
Phile van Zyl of the ZZ2 farms disputed the perception that farmers employ foreign nationals for cheap labour. He said that the farm employs a diverse group of workers and promote the attitude of consideration of all groups of people.
Cele condemned the attacks on foreign nationals saying: “It’s embarrassing, it’s dehumanising, it’s humiliating, it doesn’t matter how much pain we feel as South Africans but we can’t act this way on the human race. We can’t do what our people did to the foreign nationals in Durban."
However, he commended the deployment of the Defence Force to the affected areas and hopes that the courts will serve justice as they did during xenophobic attacks in the previous years.
Practical measures
Stakeholders and the department agreed on resolutions which will be implemented jointly. The organisation of a summit was proposed, which will gather other government departments and stakeholders to further discuss issues related to labour, working condition, the employment of foreign nationals and other issues in the farming sector.
The meeting also decided that leadership of the country need to promote diversity and show the people of South Africa that they cannot tolerate other groups on conditions.
It was resolved that DAFF must deliver on the Agricultural Policy Action Plan (Apap) and the National Development Plan (NDP) to fast track job creation and help prevent bad perceptions on foreign nationals.
Rural development programmes must also be revitalised.
The department will embark on a series of public participation events following a directive from the Presidency for all government departments to address xenophobic attacks in their sectors.
The Foundation for Human Rights also called on the SA government to realise its constitutional mandate to promote and protect the rights of all people living in South Africa and to uphold their dignity, regardless of their legal status.
"We therefore urgently call upon government, leadership and other key stakeholders including business to commit itself to a sustainable programme of action to combat xenophobia.
"Practical measures should include ending the violence and the displacement, establishing a rapid response mechanism as well as early warning signals," the foundation said in a statement.
"We commend the courageous individuals and communities who have stepped forward to stop the violence and create safe spaces. It is our collective responsibility to take proactive action to put in place practical measures for government to take action against those who violate the rights of others. Impunity must not be allowed to prevail."
