Phoenix residents came out in numbers on Sunday to support a call for peace, unity and to show sympathy for the lives lost in Phoenix during the recent unrest. The “All Lives Matter” peace rally, which was an initiative by the community for the community, was held at the Rydalvale Grounds in Unit 9, Phoenix. This came against the background of the recent unrest.
A memorandum for the safety, peace and well-being of Phoenix residents was handed over to SAPS with a request that feedback be given to the community. The residents also called on SAPS and the government to ensure their safety and to put an end to racial tensions, fake news and the branding of the people of Phoenix as murderers. Colonel Mthiyane from the Phoenix District office received the memorandum and gave assurance that a response would be provided within 30 days. Reniel Reddy, an organiser of the event, said the people of Phoenix require assurance from the government and SAPS that they will be safe. “We want peace and harmony and no more attacks. People who are campaigning for hate speech and racial slurs are inciting violence but the people of Phoenix stand for unity, social cohesion and love.”
Reddy added that the people who came out to protect their livelihoods and families should not be branded as murderers. “Those who killed people in the unrest should face the full might of the law and the rule of law should prevail,” he added. Another organiser of the event, Seelan Nair, said that the words ‘Phoenix Massacre’ were coined by the media. He emphasised that there is no racism in Phoenix and that the lives of the people lost during the unrest was not planned by the people of Phoenix. Roy Moodley, the leader of Minorities of South Africa (MOSA), said that his party fully supports the organisers for bringing people together to stop racism. “We have been tarnished by some media that Phoenix is a ‘massacre town’, which we are not. We are asking to be told where these deaths took place. We are saying racism needs to stop immediately. We love our brothers and sisters of other race groups and we want to live in harmony like before.”
Mpumi Magwaza, a child and youth coordinator from KwaMakhutha, said that everyone in the community was affected by the recent unrest, especially the women and children. “I saw a community of people who have been victimised and were protecting their own businesses and environment. I feel relieved having seen the unity and the call for oneness. What I saw on TV and what I experienced are very different. We must work together. We have colleagues who are Indian and Black,” she added. Morgan Nair, of Activist Movement of South Africa, said that issues should have been sorted out internally between the ruling party without affecting the people. “We are facing Covid-19 and now this unrest which could have been avoided by the government. A peacemaking team consisting of stakeholders and government officials needs to go into the townships and call for peace and seek solutions.” The Democratic Liberal Congress (DLC) leader, Councillor Patrick Pillay said, “The DLC was 100 percent behind the “All Lives Matter” campaign and applauds Seelan Nair for starting this great initiative that seeks to restore peace and harmony within all our communities. Members of the DLC and the Phoenix community came out in their numbers to support this programme of action.”
