Update: 1 July 2010 | Western Cape Government

Update: 1 July 2010

2011
(Western Cape Government)
Since the outbreak of xenophobic violence in May 2008, de-briefings and planning have taken place to prepare and prevent future occurrences.

In October / November 2008, the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) and United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) held debriefing sessions to learn from displacement and sheltering of thousands of people. Based upon these debriefings, the PDMC drew up a Social Conflict Emergency Plan to guide the actions of all stakeholders. The plan was completed after discussion with municipalities and the Provincial Joints, which includes all the security-related agencies in the Western Cape. In addition, each district was required to develop a Preparedness Plan for 2010. These plans identify all the possible hazards that can occur - such as electricity supply cuts and flooding - and one of the hazards identified was social conflict involving foreign nationals.

There have been persistent reports throughout South Africa for a number of weeks that foreigners are being told to leave South Africa after the World Cup or they will face violence. These rumours have also surfaced in the Western Cape. Repeating a rumour or treating it as fact can lead to fear, and for that reason threats should be reported immediately to the SAPS for investigation and action, if necessary.

In addition to the planning that has already taken place, the Province has taken a number of steps:

  • It is an active member of the SAPS Priority Committee, which has been established to investigate threats against foreigners. This Committee met on 24 June 2010 and again on 30 June;
  • It has established a Provincial Social Conflict Committee which includes provincial departments, the UNHCR, the City and district disaster management centres, and the SAPS. The main purpose of this committee is to coordinate the activities and resources of all stakeholders in the Province. This Committee met for the first time on 1 July.

The Province is currently focusing on the following initiatives:

    HOD for the Department of Local Government Dr Hildegarde Fast
  • Early Warning System: the SAPS and State Security Agency are constantly monitoring the situation. The Province will be supporting this process by providing additional information that it has access to - for example, information from Community Development Workers (CDWs), who work in communities at highest risk of xenophobic violence.
  • Community facilitation: where there are persistent reports of threats from one area, the Province will deploy community facilitators and mediators in order to address conflict in communities and will also engage with Neighbourhood Watches and Community Police Forums in those areas.
  • Updating of Municipal Preparedness Plans: at the meeting of 24 June 2010, all municipalities were requested to update their social conflict preparedness plans and submit them to the Province. These plans were presented and discussed at the meeting of 1 July, and the PDMC will assist municipalities to add further information.
  • Partnerships with civil society and Faith-based Organisations (FBOs): the Premier met with the leaders of some FBOs earlier this year, at which the issue of xenophobia was discussed. There will be further meetings between civil society and FBOs to ensure that government works together with them on a variety of issues. For example, civil society can also provide early warnings through to the SAPS, and is in the process of running anti-xenophobia campaigns in the most vulnerable communities. Both civil society and FBOs can also assist with humanitarian efforts, should this become necessary.
The content on this page was last updated on 4 September 2013