International Labour Day – Workshops on the problem of Xenophobia to be hosted in Pretoria and Cape Town
The World Class Cities For All (WCCA) Campaign is requesting firm commitments and action from municipal authorities to address the needs of the urban poor so as to halt more attacks against foreigners. "Host cities should establish consultation mechanisms with representative associations of the informal economy so as to ensure that the first games held in Africa are `Xenophobia-Free Games`", said Paul Shambira, WCCA Campaign organiser.
The WCCA Campaign has organised a programme of anti-Xenophobia forums in host cities between February and April 2010. The objective of the workshops in Nelson Mandela Bay, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Tshwane is to create awareness among informal economy workers of the risks of xenophobia during the world cup in the context of the recent attacks against foreigners.
StreetNet`s affiliates in neighbouring African countries have taken part in the debates as guest speakers to express solidarity among street vendors in South Africa and Africa as a whole and to call for municipal governments throughout the continent to adopt inclusive urban planning policies.
The last two Anti Xenophobia workshops in the series are taking place in the host cities Cape Town on 28th and 29th April, 2010 and in Pretoria on 30th April and 1st May 2010 to celebrate May Day. StreetNet affiliates who have been invited to attend the Anti-Xenophobia workshops are Clarisse Gnahoui, StreetNet International Deputy President from the market traders organisation USYNVEPID, in Benin, who will be the guest speaker at the Pretoria Anti-Xenophobia forum and Anne Matondo from the informal economy organisation LDFC, of the DRC, guest speaker at the forum in Cape Town.
Pretoria workshop
Dr G Ramokgopa, Pretoria Executive Mayor and Danny Jordaan, FIFA World Cup LOC- CEO, have been invited to address the meeting with speakers from the CounterXenophobia Unit, COSATU, SAMWU and the SACP.
The venue for the Pretoria workshop is IDASA Kutlwanong Democracy Centre 357 Visagie St/Prinsloo St. Pretoria. The workshop will start at 8am and end at 4pm on both days.
The media are invited to attend and to cover the WCCA Campaign Anti-Xenophobia workshop.
For more information contact: WCCA Campaign Co-ordinator Paul Shambira 073 6245389 e-mail shambspot@yahoo.com
