Stop The Violence

Africans around the world are deeply saddened by recent developments in South Africa, a country that still holds a very special place our hearts and in our imagination. The violence and attacks by South African citizens directed at immigrants from various African countries are shocking and have, unfortunately, become too frequent. The Global African Diaspora insist that this craziness must stop. The reprisal attacks against South Africans and South African business interests across the continent must also stop. Two wrongs, we are told, do not make a right. This urgent global petition drive started by African Diaspora professionals and other concerned sons and daughters of Africa is intended to generate at least 100,000 (one hundred thousand) signatures to apply pressure on the African Union and Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa to act now and to act decisively to end the senseless violence.

Immigrant Africans seeking opportunities to make a living in South Africa are not the enemy. They are not responsible for the pervasive poverty and suffering that continues to be the everyday experience of millions of South Africans - 25 years after Apartheid was brought to its knees. The absence of bold, selfless and visionary leadership is the culprit. Corruption at the highest levels of government is the culprit. 

There are a lot of good people in South Africa who are equally appalled by these acts of violence and destruction. These people cannot afford to be silent. Africa needs to hear their voices condemning these senseless acts of violence and reassuring every African that calls South Africa home that they do, in fact, have a place in the Rainbow nation envisioned by Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. Let's remember Edmund Burke's admonition: The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

We, the Global African Diaspora, will not remain silent. A blot on South Africa is a blot on us all. This is not the South Africa that we collectively fought for and sacrificed to make happen. We call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to take firm and decisive action to end this nonsense. The buck, sir, stops at your desk. This cancer called xenophobia must be excised. We call on His Excellency, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Chairman of the African Union to mount pressure on the government of South Africa to put an end to these constant xenophobic attacks and to adequately compensate the victims for lost lives, properties and businesses.