South Africa declares day of healing
Bathandwa Mbola
27 June 2008
A national day of healing will be held on 3 July to give South Africans the opportunity to pay their respects to those who lost their lives during the recent attacks on people from other African countries.
"In the interest of promoting peace and tolerance, government and other stakeholders will pay a national tribute in remembrance of foreign nationals and South Africans who suffered in the recent violent attacks," the Presidency said in a statement on Thursday.
Although the day will not be a public holiday, a service will be held at Pretoria's City Hall, with leaders of government, the diplomatic corps, the victims' families and ordinary South Africans expected to attend.
Sixty-two people, including 21 South Africans, were killed, scores injured and about 47 000 people displaced during the attacks, which broke out in Alexandra township in Johannesburg on 11 May before spreading to other parts of the country.
The government, international agencies such as the UNHCR, Oxfam, Doctors without Borders and Red Cross, and a number of South African non-governmental organisations have been working together to ensure that those displaced are provided with shelter and proper basic services.
Task teams have been set up at local level to coordinate the provision of humanitarian support to those affected, while several institutions and communities have donated clothing, food and toiletries.
About 6 000 of those displaced in Gauteng province have been moved from police stations, churches and community halls to temporary shelters. In the Western Cape, about 13 000 of the 20 000 displaced people have also been placed in temporary shelters.
According to the Presidency, the number of people living in temporary shelters has decreased around the country as people have begun returning to local communities.
The government aims to reintegrate people who have been displaced within two months, government spokesman Themba Masseko said at the beginning of June.
"It is not going to be easy," Maseko said. "Government acknowledges that this is a very complex process. Government will work with all stakeholders to ensure that ideal conditions are created for the reintegration process, which will involve dialogue and consultations with and between local communities and the displaced foreign nationals."
Source: BuaNews
