S. African youth urged to help stop xenophobia

The South African government on Monday launched Youth Month, urging the youth to help stop xenophobia which is deeply rooted in the country.

"I need not remind you that we are Africans before the colonial masters divided us according to their colonial schemes," Minister in the Presidency Jebb Radebe said at the launch ceremony in Soweto, southwest of Johannesburg.

"That is why we stood in solidarity against colonialism and apartheid as Africans. Thus xenophobia has no place both in our history and in our future!" said the minister.

"We therefore call on each and everyone of you to help stop the barbarism of xenophobia and banish such hatred from every corner of our beautiful land," he said.

A new wave of xenophobia violence hit parts of South Africa in April, killing seven people and displacing thousands of foreign nationals. Most of the victims come from other African countries.

The South African government managed to bring the situation under control after sending in troops to troubled areas.

"As government we will continue to monitor the situation through the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration established for this express purpose, whilst encouraging intra-African trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges that mutually benefit our various African countries," Radeb said.

June is chosen as Youth Month precisely because of events that took place in Soweto in June 1976 when students took to the streets in protest against apartheid.

Radebe took the occasion to challenge the youth to assist in bringing about radical economic transformation in South Africa by taking step to participate in personal economic development.

The youth must be found in farming, in information and communication technology, in the financial institutions, in the media, in engineering, in sports, in cultural activities and all other activities that constitute the economy of the country, the minister said. Endi