Recording by Bradley Bordiss

1.32 MB

We urgently need to source inexpensive plastic rain coats and inexpensive insulated sleeping bags. If you know where we can source these items, please contact Estelle on 084 730 0935.

St George's Cathedral, Wale Street (corner Queen Victoria)
Tuesday 27 May 2008
12 - 2pm

The Western Cape Civil Society Coalition (made up of trade unions, FBOs, SAHRC and human, health and refugee rights organisations) has been formed to respond to and deal with the threats of and actual violent attacks against foreign nationals as well as the humanitarian crisis that has unfolded in our country.

This Tuesday we are having a rally/public meeting to speak out against the:

Today, with deliveries of food, blankets, health care supplies and clothing, the Civil Society Coalition delivered a letter to every displaced person. The letter expressed solidarity with residents of South Africa born in other African countries, condemned the violence, and urged all displaced people to stay and contribute in South Africa. See full text of letter.

An estimated 17,000 people have been displaced. At this time there are four big security shelters to which many people have been redirected, sometimes against their will. These facilities are Silverstroom (Atlantis), Youngsfield (Kenilworth), Soetwater (Kommetjie) and Harmony (Strand). There are still satellite churches, mosques and public shelters, however, even these are overcrowded. We had hoped that the city would have open the Civic Centre and other community halls, which they did not do, and thus we are left with many people with no place to go and no idea about the future.

As the Civil Society Coalition, we have been providing food, blankets, toiletries and other amenities along with medical care, and legal consultation to this body of distressed people. We have a comprehensive list of all facilities housing displaced people, and we try to ensure that they are fully stocked with whatever they require three times per day.

Very helpful would be companies able to donate and/or deliver food and other supplies to sites where displaced persons are staying.

The following items are especially urgently:

• Blankets
• Toiletries, hygiene items (soap, antiseptic creams, sanitary pads, etc.)
• Baby producsts — in particular:
  • Nappies
  • Formula feed
  • Baby food
  • Bottles
  • etc.
• Food (esp. bread, non-perishable items like tinned food)

Approximately 10,000 people have been displaced across Cape Town by xenophobic violence

TAC and the AIDS Law Project would like to extend thanks to all of the individuals and organisations who have assisted us to provide humanitarian relief to displaced people. In particular we would like to thank Sonke Gender Justice Network and ARASA for their help in coordinating the relief effort and Habonim Dror for providing us with a constant stream of volunteers and donations of food and other necessities.

For the last couple of days, TAC has been coordinating and receiving donations at its offices in Longmarket Street.

The NEW address for drop-offs, from is: 50 Canterbury Street (off Roeland Street), Central Cape Town.

We plan to run the following advertisement in major national newspapers. Sign your name to support this campaign. We are also asking prominent South Africans to sign up.

Who will protect me when someone comes to do me harm?

Stop the Violence!

If I allow Zimbabweans, Somalians, Mozambicans or any immigrants or refugees to be killed, robbed or hurt, who will protect me when someone comes to do me harm?

We are all part of some group: Xhosa, Zulu, Indian, Jewish, Muslim, Lesbian, Gay, Coloured, White and Black… any of us can be attacked.

The attacks on refugees and immigrants can turn into attacks on fellow South Africans at any moment.

Attacking refugees and immigrants will not bring jobs, houses or anything except misery and insecurity for everyone.

We must all act to end the attacks. The world belongs To all who live in it.

Click here to sign up