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News – South Africa: An award for living in peace with foreigners

WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.

Original Post Date: 2008-11-11 Time: 04:00:07  Posted By: Jan

By Francis Hweshe

Masiphumelele informal settlement near Ocean View has received the annual Reconciliation Award from the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation Commission in recognition of its efforts to live in peace with foreigners.

This follows the outbreak of xenophobic violence in May that led to the displacement of about 20 000 people and a subsequent drive by authorities to reintegrate them.

Ironically, on the eve of the ceremony, Ethiopian Abdi Mubil, a store owner in Masiphumelele, was gunned down out-side his store on Friday night by three youths. Some refugees believe it was another xenophobic attack, while other community members are convinced it was a robbery.

Mubil had been back in the community for three months after leaving the Soetwater camp when he was killed.

Commenting on the weekend award, Pastor Mzuvukile Nikelo, Masiphumelele Community Forum chairperson, said it was a confirmation of the biblical principle “Love your neighbour as you would love yourself”.

Nikelo said it was out of love that they had welcomed foreigners back. People in the community who hated foreigners were in the minority.

Asked about Mubil’s death, he said it was an act of robbery and not a xenophobic attack, as the community had a “high wave of criminal activities”.

He said it was an indictment of the government that a community of nearly 30 000 people had no police station, but had to rely on Ocean View police station.

Somali refugee leader Suleyman Shabab said refugees were to meet yesterday to discuss Mubil’s murder.

    • Source: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=vn20081110111843873C458851