Gauteng residents march against xenophobia

Residents of Gauteng are taking to the streets of Johannesburg on Saturday to march against xenophobia. 

South Africa has been rocked by violenct xenophobic protests. 

Organisers of the #ShutdownXenophobia said in a statement: "Over the last week gangs of men burnt and looted migrant-owned and other shops across Gauteng. They killed, threatened women with rape, bringing fear to many communities."

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They have called on all organisations and individuals to mobilise and march against xenophobia.

"The contagion of xenophobia has failed to go away, it’s becoming worse. It is driven by hunger and the competition over the things we need: jobs, decent income, houses, and services; it’s made worse by climate crisis where floods and drought ravage our neighbours giving migrants no option but to find another place to support their family," they say. 

"Xenophobia kills. It blames foreigners for unemployment, low wages, and poor services. It turns worker against worker, poor against poor...Opportunist politicians use it to avoid the growing anger and discontent of ordinary people."