Update: 9 July 2010

On 7 July, Dr Ivan Meyer, Minister of Social Development, and Anton Bredell, Minister of Local Government, met with faith-based organisations (FBOs) to discuss the rumours regarding possible violence against foreigners. The meeting was attended by a broad spectrum of representatives from FBOs. The religious leaders shared their concerns and offered support on issues of counseling and mediation. Minister Meyer and Minister Bredell encouraged religious leaders to spread positive messages of good neighbourliness in their respective congregations. The meeting concluded with a commitment from government and the FBOs to coordinate their efforts.

On 8 July, Provincial Government convened a follow-up meeting with the civil society and faith-based organisations that are able to provide mediation support. The aim of the meeting was to coordinate the efforts of provincially-appointed mediators and FBOs / NGOs and thereby ensure that mediation and conflict reduction is focused on the communities most vulnerable to possible violence against foreigners.

On 8 July the Provincial Social Conflict Committee met. It consists of international, national, provincial and local role players, including the UNHCR, South African Police, provincial departments, the City of Cape Town and district disaster management centres. This committee coordinates the activities and resources of all stakeholders in the province. Each Municipal Disaster Manager presented their updated Social Conflict Preparedness Plans, which include risk assessments, risk reduction measures, and contingency plans, should an outbreak occur. SAPS reported in the meeting that to date there have been no verified incidents of xenophobic violence in the Province

9 July: All of the people who were waiting next to the N1 freeway for transport to Zimbabwe have left. Provincial Traffic Services is monitoring the freeway to ensure that vehicles do not breach the law by dropping off people and their belongings next to the freeway. The Provincial Mediation Programme has deployed over 20 mediators in the areas most vulnerable to xenophobic attacks. The Provincial Government is coordinating their activities with the NGOs and FBOs that are working actively in the same communities.

The Provincial Mediation Programme addresses the insufficient mechanisms within communities to address the causes of tensions and conflicts when they arise. Tensions and differences can result in physical violence with long-lasting physical harm, and the Programme will assist in peacefully resolving these tensions through dialogue and proper engagement. The ability to detect threats of violence, combined with the ability to intervene, will help to avoid violence and displacement.

The Premier will be sending a letter to the President to request that a representative from each Province is on the Inter-Ministerial Committee on xenophobia.

HOD for the Department of Local Government Dr Hildegarde Fast