Ekurhuleni executive mayor Clr Mondli Gungubele has told residents of Makause to prepare for a reunion with the displaced foreign nationals.<\/p>\n
Speaking to hundreds of Makause residents, on Wednesday afternoon, Gungubele said it was \u201cun-South African\u201d to demonstrate such levels of hatred against other African brothers.<\/p>
Makause and Marathon informal settlements were the most affected by the recent xenophobic attacks in the Gauteng province.<\/p>\n
This resulted in the displacement of just over 1 000 foreign nationals who had to be accommodated at temporary camps in Primrose and Elsburg.<\/p>
However, the number has gone down to 540, as people have started to voluntarily move back to their shelters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe time has come to put an end to this crime we are committing against each other as Africans; we cannot take joy at attacking other Africans.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday you must work with us as we try to reintegrate the communities of Marathon and Makause,\u201d Gungubele said to the sound of loud cheers.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou must get ready to welcome your fellow brothers and sisters back; they want to come back home, but are scared of what might happen to them.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet us come together and assure them that their safety is guaranteed.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also informed the community that plans were afoot to roll out a mass reintegration programme throughout Ekurhuleni.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf everything goes according to plan, we should clear the camps by the weekend,” he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, we need to be extra sure that all parties are part of our plans to reintegrate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must also begin to implement a social cohesion programme, that will assist us never to witness such incidents again as a country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Makause community leader Jomo Ngwenya assured the mayor that the community was ready to welcome back the people.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not proud of what happened in our area and we wish to guarantee the victims full protection,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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