GROUNDUP: Activists go door-to-door to ‘push back’ against xenophobia in Yeoville
The locals, armed with pamphlets and information about rights, are urging people to speak out against violence, harassment and division fuelled by groups like March and March.
Residents of Yeoville, Johannesburg, are taking matters into their own hands in an effort to combat the growing xenophobia plaguing their once vibrant and diverse community. Armed with informational pamphlets and knowledge of their rights, locals are urging citizens to stand up against violence, harassment, and the division fomented by groups such as March and March.
Alida Mpombo, a Congolese native who has lived in Yeoville since 2009, shares her family's struggle to renew their asylum papers, which have remained unassisted since 2024. Her family's inability to return to the Democratic Republic of Congo, due to ongoing war, further emphasizes the urgency of the situation.
Despite these challenges, Mpombo recounts a time when Yeoville was a welcoming place for immigrants and locals alike. However, recent events have altered this perception. In the past year, Operation Dudula members have denied healthcare access to immigrants at local clinics. Following a court order obtained by Kopanag Africa Against Xenophobia (KAAX) and others, the clinic resumed assisting immigrants with valid documents; however, activists claim that this progress has been undone since April.
Immigrants and residents of Yeoville report being targeted and harassed by vigilante groups who have started targeting shops, salons, the local clinic, and street traders. In response, activists from the Siyafana Sonke Campaign, a coalition of civil society organizations, have taken to the streets, picketing the Yeoville Clinic to demand an end to xenophobic violence. General Moyo of KAAX speaks out, emphasizing the terror inflicted upon immigrants, vendors, and the sick by these xenophobic forces.
The Siyafana Sonke Campaign went door-to-door, distributing pamphlets to inform residents about their rights and to encourage them to speak out against the violence. Claire Ceruti, a member of the campaign, asserts that the protests by March and March earlier in the week targeted an immigrant business hub before moving on to the clinic.
Ceruti emphasizes that Yeoville is home to many hard-working immigrants who have contributed to the community's growth. She clarifies that the blame should lie with the government, not the migrants, and urges for support from the authorities rather than vigilante acts.
Peter Monethe, a Yeoville-born resident, adds that shop owners are now forced to pay protection fees to ward off the vigilante groups. He underscores that the community is no longer safe for either locals or immigrants, highlighting the urgent need for collective action.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
