The Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa was today honoured by the African Diaspora Forum (ADF) as an ambassador of positive values for his ministry's efforts in thwarting the so-called xenophobic attacks.
At an Africa Heritage Indaba for Social Cohesion which brought together various role players including government, communities, civic organisations, youth organisations, ADF chairperson, Marc Gbaffou congratulated the minister for his leadership and commitment as the chairperson for an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Xenophobia.
He said government's response to the so called xenophobic threats has been proactive, well coordinated as such prevented what could have been a catastrophic situation.
The other two recipients of this honour were South Africa's music Icon, Mr Hugh Masekela and human right Activist, Ms Elinor Sisulu. Both attended and addressed the forum and respectively urged South Africans to be tolerant towards foreign nationals and vice versa.
They emphasised an importance of respect for humanity and striving for peace and harmony, not only in Yeoville, but across the country.
In his address, Minister Mthethwa commended the Yeoville Bellevue communities for their efforts in helping deal with crime as well as socio-economic challenges facing them.
"As a diverse yet united community, your refusal to be marginalised into lunatic war fares, orchestrated by prophets of doom and branded as xenophobic threats; serves as a shining example to be emulated by other communities around our country".
He urged all community to rise against this thuggery and hooliganism, which is disguised as xenophobia, and claim back their streets, their schools, their places of work, their hospitals and recreational areas for their children.
He said the ministry will continue to support such community initiated programmes because as evidenced during the recent crime statistics, in areas where government and community partnerships are strong, crime such as murder, hijackings and contact crimes have decreased.
"Our presence this afternoon is not to reflect on the merits or analyst discussions around negative rumour peddling on xenophobia. Ours is a commitment and intent on fighting crime, in whatever form it manifests itself.
"From the onset when we heard about these negative acts of attacking our brothers and sisters, we immediately vowed that we shall thwart them decisively. As evidenced, we acted resolutely," he added.
Minister Mthethwa urged the foreign nationals in the country to get involved in various communities structures such as community policing forums.
"We urge you, as our brothers and sisters from our other mothers, not to sit on the other side of the fence and become passive observers. We urge you to become part and parcel of community policing forums, to work with organised structures to report criminals. The safety of communities where you live should be your responsibility as well."
The minister warned, once again those who continue to fuel this anarchy will face the full wrath of the law. The criminal justice system will ensure that they rot in jail.
"We know that these scoundrels live amongst you and that you know them. That is why we call on you as communities to work with the law enforcement agencies to identify and report these criminals.
"Those who believe they have a free-for-all right to murder ransack shops and destroy property of others because they are not South Africans, are grossly misled. Such criminals deserve no place in our society."
When these so called xenophobic attacks emerged two months back, government adopted a proactive stance and immediately re-established the Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by Minister Mthethwa.
Some of the proactive approaches which were implemented by this committee, in close partnership with various communities across the country, included an adoption of a unity of purpose and a single vision and ensuring that this scourge is forthrightly dealt with.
The basic principle of this plan entailed engagement of all stakeholders within communities aimed at building a unity of purpose, a single vision and a pragmatic programme to address the challenge.
It also focused on proactive facilitation of a societal dialogue against this scourge, an extension of the 2010 FIFA World Cup swift policing and justice operations.
In addition, developed and implemented a government public education, awareness and communication strategy, aimed at dispelling some of the purported and misleading information which created unnecessary tensions.
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Minister Mthethwa honoured as ambassador of positive values
