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Ubuntu Derby: to unite Africans in Africa
Southern Africa Women's Institute for Migration Affairs (SAWIMA)
July 07, 2010

Southern Africa Women's Institute for Migration Affairs (SAWIMA), ACTION Support Centre (ACTION) and Population Council are organizing a soccer match between Jomo Cosmos (South Africa) and Highlanders (Zimbabwe) on the 25th of July at Johannesburg stadium. The match, being called the Ubuntu derby aims at bringing together all Africans in Africa. People from all walks of life are invited to celebrate their cultural richness, diversity, and most importantly to embrace their differences through soccer, drama, poetry music and traditional dances. The event will also be graced by political and religious leaders in South Africa. A detailed programme, mobilizing fliers and posters will be released as soon as possible. Tickets are charged at an affordable price and the funds that will be raised through tickets sales will be channeled towards vulnerable children, skills development, and repatriation programs, as well as to continue with rest of the activities planned to take forward this campaign.

The socio-economic and political landscape of the world is ever changing. Against all odds, criticism and doubts, South Africa is hosting one of the best international sporting events, the FIFA World Cup. Many lessons can be drawn from this experience but all else: we as Africans have realised that sports can unite us; we have discovered that through sports we are able to celebrate our diversities and that our humanity (Ubuntu) is not merely defined by our languages, skin colour, political, religious, social and economic affiliation but rather by our abilities to realize and collectively deal with the challenges that bedevil our communities. Our hope as Africans is anchored on the idea that one day we will be free from all the vicissitudes that confront us today, that one day Africa will be free from xenophobia, poverty, diseases, hunger, discrimination, war, and many other issues. This is our dream.

Africa is once more on the global map, and that the FIFA World Cup will descend to Africa once more in our generation can not be ruled out! In the midst of the international soccer season, with all eyes on Africa specifically South of Africa, we hear of fresh threats of xenophobic attacks emerging from the disgruntled sections of South African communities. The media has done its task of publicizing these threats and so do many other whistle blowers. These threats are real and chances of South Africa's image being tarnished after the World Cup are high. Its time for action, and that time is now! The challenges that we face are real, the frustrations demonstrated by the people at grassroots level are real, practical solutions are therefore required immediately.

We commend the South African Human Rights Commission, UNHCHR and South African Police Service for initiating a programme that focuses on xenophobia. The Mandela Foundation has issued out a statement condemning these threats; and civil society, social movements in KwaZulu Natal have organized an anti-xenophobia rally and many other organizations have done and are still doing sterling work around xenophobia. We also salute Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa for issuing out a stern warning on those who intend to cause xenophobic related mayhem in our communities. It is regrettable that the ANC has taken a denialist position in the view of real threats, a stance that protects the perpetrators. Rather than dismissing the reports, the ANC should be investigating them with vigour. A lot still needs to be done. Research organizations such CORMSA, HSRC and many others have done brilliant research on xenophobia and it is time that their research recommendations are implemented. We have seen the speedy resolve of cases during the Fifa World Cup by special courts set up for the event; we think this approach should also be taken to deal with xenophobia and criminally related violence and a special hot line to accommodate whistle blowers should be established.

We call upon all civil society organisations, labour movements, social movements, community organisations, universities and colleges, churches, business communities, banking and financial institutions, youth and women's organisations, cultural groups, musicians, media (community radio stations, televisions stations, and free lance journalists), South Africans and all the Diaspora communities to come on board, pledge their support to this initiative.

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