Pretoria – The community of Tshwane today turned up in large numbers to march against the recent attacks on foreign nationals.
The march started at City Hall and proceeded to the Union Buildings where the demonstrators handed over a memorandum, pledging their support in the fight against the recent violence.
Before marching to the Union Buildings, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa told the marchers that what happened in the country should not happen again. “This should not happen again in our life time,” he said.
State Security Minister David Mahlobo, the Mayor of Tshwane Kgosientso Ramokgopa and other senior government officials were part of the march to the Union Buildings.
The march formed part of government’s initiatives to encourage communities affected by incidences of violence to say no to attacks on foreign nationals.
At the Union Buildings, the marchers handed over a memorandum to Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to pledge their support in the fight against attacks on foreign nationals.
Receiving the memorandum, Minister Mapisa-Nqakula said she was grateful for the initiative shown by the demonstrators.
“I thank you for your initiative. What is happening here in our country is bad and unacceptable.
“Our freedom was not fought for us to do unacceptable things, we do not want to see what has been happening in our country, happen again,” she said.
Minister Mapisa-Nqakula appealed to communities to preach messages of peace and denounce violence.
“We are one nation, let’s not allow people to spoil our country, let’s not allow anarchy,” the Minister said.
Precious Ngomane, one of the residents who took part in the march, told SANews that she was very disappointed by what was happening in the country.
“People who are attacking foreign nationals should stop it as it damages the image of the country. Those people must be arrested and be punished severely,” she said.
Moses Modimeli told SAnews that he took part in the march in support of government’s initiative to end violence directed at foreign nationals.
“Our brothers and sisters supported us during our difficult times when we were oppressed, what was happening to them was pure criminal,” he said.
Government ministers and other senior government officials have been deployed to various parts of the country to speak to communities to denounce violence directed at foreign nationals. – SAnews.gov.za
