We, the Chairpersons of the Commission
for Gender Equality (CGE), South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC),
Finance and Fiscal Commission (FFC), Independent Electoral Commission (IEC),
Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural,
Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Commission), Office of the Public
Service Commission (OPSC), Office of the Public Protector (OPP) and the
Auditor-General (AG) of South Africa, wish to categorically express our utter
dismay and condemnation of the widespread violent attacks, including the
killing, of foreign nationals currently
residing in our country.
The Forum of Institutions Supporting Democracy (FISD) is strongly
opposed to any form of violence, whether from organized entities or ordinary
members of our communities from any part of the country. The Forum also calls
upon the government and all law enforcement bodies, particularly the South
African Police, our community leaders, religious leaders, traditional leaders
and political leaders at national, provincial and local community levels to not
only condemn this scourge of xenophobia, but also to mobilize our country’s
collective moral and other resources to ensure that no one’s human rights are
violated on South African soil, irrespective of the reasons.
We, on behalf of all the Constitutional Bodies, wish to state unequivocally
that South Africa’s Constitution was founded on recognition of the sanctity of
life and the right of everyone, whether South African or not, to enjoy the
basic Human Rights contained in our Constitution. This is violation of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) where member States have pledged
themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, promotion of the
universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental
freedoms. What is happening is in
violation of the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
Article 3: everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of
person
Article 5: no one shall be subjected to torture, or to cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
Article 13 (1) everyone has the right to freedom of movement and
residence within the borders of each state
Article 13(2) everyone has the right to leave any country,
including his /her own and to return to his country
We therefore call upon fellow South Africans to respect and uphold
these Human Rights at all times. We also call upon South Africans, All spheres
of Government, Private Sector and Constitutional Bodies to do and support the
following actions:
- Criminal
Justice Organs should investigate, and arrest and prosecute all perpetrators
- Need to support
and provide information to Judge Pillay Head of the Task Team appointed by the
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal to investigate the underlying causes of the xenophobic
attacks in KZN.
- Call upon all
leaders to desist from uttering provocative remarks
- National summit
should be convened by the Department of Home Affairs and Department of Arts and
Culture to deal with xenophobic attacks and social cohesion and
- Call upon media
institutions and use of social media in a responsive manner instead of inciting
violence as some of them seem to be doing.
Issued jointly by the Forum of Institutions
Supporting Democracy
Date: 20 April 2015
For more information, contact:
Bongani Khumalo – Financial
and Fiscal Commission – Bonganik@ffc.co.za (0829040811)