South African churches are taking measures to assist victims of xenophobic attacks, and also lobby the government to intercede:
Churches in drive to help prevent xenophobic attacks
From Anglican Communion News Service
The South African Council of Churches says it is taking measures in the country’s nine provinces to assist possible victims of xenophobia following some attacks in the Western Cape province.
“We will set up the hotline where we will be collating complaints from any person that is threatened,” said Eddie Makue, general secretary of the 27-member SACC, which includes Anglican, Orthodox and Protestant traditions as well as the Roman Catholic bishops.
Human rights organizations estimate that around three million Zimbabweans have fled hard times and political oppression in their own country to work in neighboring South Africa, which itself has high unemployment.
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Archbishop Buti Tlhagale, president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said: “We call on government and communities at all levels to confront the issue of violence in a proactive and productive manner that will make for peace and tolerance.” Tlhagale reminded South Africa it is part of “international responsibilities to open our borders to those who are fleeing persecution and the breakdown of the economy of their own countries.”