Church members say no to xenophobia

Members of Du Noon's Anglican Church took to the streets on Saturday to spread the gospel against attacking foreigners. Photo: Peter Luhanga/WCN

They were brandishing knobkieries and banners, but they were also dressed in smart suits and waving bibles.

Singing gospel songs and dancing, about 30 members of the Du Noon’s Anglican Church marched through the streets of the township on Saturday, preaching and quoting verses from the bible in an attempt to convince residents to refrain from attacking African foreign nationals.

Going through squatter camps, the church members told residents that everyone was equal before God and should be respected.

Although Du Noon was the where the 2008 xenophobic attacks first flared up in the Western Cape, there have been no incidents of attacks against foreigners since the World Cup, unlike many other areas in the province.

As calm continues in the township, Somalis, who had packed up their stock and locked their shops last week as they feared an outbreak of violence and looting fuelled by rumours of renewed xenophobia, have been slowly returning to re-open their businesses.

The church took advantage of their return to preach in the streets and urge locals to embrace the foreigners.

Pastor Philile Mbilini said it didn’t matter what country a person came from, everyone was equal before God.

“No matter where you come from, whether it is from Zimbabwe or the US, we are all the same in front of God,” he said, and urged locals to “stop using the word Makwerekwere”.

Church member Vuyani Nohashe said there was a misunderstanding in the community that foreigners took away job opportunities, which was “not the case at all”.

“We want to bridge the community with God so they can stop that kind of thinking. We want them to share their troubles with God,” said Nohashe.

“We are preaching that they must stop attacking our fellow Africans.”

Although the idea of preaching to the residents was good, it would not stop people from attacking foreigners if they wanted to, said resident Nombuyiselo Ngali, who stood listening to the religious message.

“People don’t even care about the church. If they want to do it (attack foreigners) they can simply do it. These people (locals) are cruel,” said Ngali.

Milnerton Police spokesperson Daphne Dell said police presence in Du Noon had been increased during the World Cup and remained at a high level.

Dell said there had been no incidents in which foreign nationals had been targeted in Du Noon. — Peter Luhanga, West Cape News