Dynamos Pirates match to unite Joburg

A FOOTBALL match between Dynamos and Orlando Pirates is being held to encourage good relations between foreign nationals and South Africans, so helping to counter xenophobia, in the annual Ubuntu Derby.

The international friendly, hosted by the City in conjunction with civic organisations, will take place on Saturday, 2 July at Rand Stadium.

Speaking at a media briefing on 28 June, the City's director of networks and stakeholder relations, Jabu Nkosi, said the tournament would help to unite South Africans and foreign nationals.

"Soccer is an integral part of many communities worldwide and is being used to raise awareness of social issues that negatively impact on peoples' lives and tear communities apart," Nkosi said.

"The intention of the match is to bring nationals and foreign nationals together to initiate dialogue around tolerance and co-existence, better understand the plight of refugees and support various initiatives that campaign against xenophobia."

The Ubuntu Derby is part of the City's year-long campaign against xenophobia, which is aimed at addressing social attitudes towards xenophobia and foreigners, and the effects of human trafficking. The objective is to stop xenophobic attacks and promote tolerance of migrants.

It is one element of the Ubuntu Calabash, an initiative of the City and its partners, Southern African Women's Institute for Migration Affairs, Show Me Your Number, Migrant Community Board SA, South African Football Players Union, and the Gauteng department of sport, arts and culture.

The theme for the year is "Youth Taking a Stand against Xenophobia".

"Ubuntu Calabash, focusing on Afrophobia, fits well with the array of programmes that the City's health and community development departments are organising," said Nkosi.

"With this, we are trying to heal the wounds of the 2008 attacks, and demonstrate ground-breaking work being done. Dialogues form an integral part of building bridges between South African nationals and non-nationals."

Ubuntu
Speaking about Ubuntu Calabash, Joburg's deputy director of communications, Nthatisi Modingoane, said the City was a strategic partner of community members and other civic organisations to learn more about work being done in communities to promote tolerance and co-existence between all people, irrespective of where they came from.

Nthatisi Modingoane speaks about Ubuntu Calabash
The City's deputy director of communications Nthatisi Modingoane speaks about Ubuntu Calabash

Another aspect of the campaign was dialogues in communities affected by the xenophobic attacks of 2008. They ran from 21 to 28 June.

To help integrate migrants into Joburg, the City is mobilising resources to expand its skills development programme, its repatriation efforts, and its strategies to help young refugee mothers who need humanitarian assistance.

Its partnerships with civic organisations play an instrumental role in broadening the campaign. Joyce Dube, an activist of migrant rights with the Southern African Women's Institute for Migration Affairs, said there were still barriers that needed to be broken down to integrate foreign nationals into society.

"They must not only be stuck in Yeoville, Berea, Hilbrow; we must also be seen in Soweto, Tembisa and in other townships," she said.

To broaden the campaign against xenophobia, the Foundation for Human Rights will sponsor 130 000 inserts in The Star newspaper, containing messages against xenophobia.

The Ubuntu Derby comes after World Refugee Day, a United Nations (UN) observance, held on 20 June each year. In addition, Johannesburg is hosting its second conference on migration from 28 June. The emphasis of the two-day gathering is on business.

Gates to the Ubuntu Derby game will open at 3pm and fans are encouraged to arrive early for the curtain raiser match between Team Zimbabwe and Team DRC. Tickets are selling at R45 each.