Cape Town, October 23, 2006 – Africa Unite, an organization working to bring people of different backgrounds together, has done exactly that in Masiphumelele in Cape Town, where South African-born and Somali traders have come together to form a single business forum.

This follows the wave of attacks on Somali businesses in Masiphumelele, near Kommetjie, last month.

Somali shopkeepers fled the informal settlement after 27 Somali-owned shops were trashed in a string of attacks thought to have had their roots in xenophobia. Many of them refused to return, despite assurances from the provincial government.

Africa Unite, a non-profit organization founded as a project of the Institute for Democracy in South Africa and officially launched in 2003 by MEC for Community Safety Leonard Ramatlakane, arranged meetings between Somalis and others living in the settlement.

Also, the provincial government set up community conflict resolution committees and launched an investigation into the wave of attacks.

The department of community safety has announced that it is to set up joint committees of South African-born and Somali traders.

Members of the Somali business fraternity in Masiphumelele had asked Africa Unite to assist them, said Zoe Nkongolo, a coordinator with the organization.

"Some Somalis had been sent to Saldanha and so their children could not attend their schools in Masiphumelele," he said.

"Our first meeting was on October 3. It was quite interesting, the issues raised by the various groups.

"At the meeting we learned that the cause of the violence was that the Somalis' prices are lower than the local businesses' and communities want them to stay."

Nkongolo said it had been noted that other foreigners were also doing business in the area, but that the violence had been directed only at Somalis.

"We decided the best way to solve the problem would be to sit down with the community and the Somalis."

Somalis are now members of the Masiphumelele Business Association.

"The community informed us that they have a lack of business skills, so we will also be running training with the businesses," Nkongolo said.

"The (South African-born) businessmen said they are not happy with the way government dealt with the issue and that they are not really xenophobic and want the Somalis to be part of the community."

Nkongolo said it was vital that the Somalis become part of the community.

"Our task is to facilitate that integration and make sure it works for both sides."

Among other things, Africa Unite works to improve human rights awareness, develop skills, combat crime, overcome xenophobia, and deal with HIV/Aids.

 Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool met representatives of the province's Somali community at his official residence, Leeuwenhof, at the weekend.

He said he welcomed the steps taken by the community and Somalis to resolve the conflict.

Source: Cape Times, Oct. 23, 2006