South Africans must always remember the support the oppressed people in the country received from other nations across the continent, a representative of the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) said before a silent vigil at St. George’s Cathedral in Cape Town on Tuesday. The Western Cape Religious Leaders Forum (WCRLF) staged a silent vigil at the cathedral in solidarity with all those affected by recent xenophobic violence across the country.

Speaking after a press briefing inside the cathedral, Sheikh Dawood Terreblanche said although many of those attacked and displaced in recent weeks in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng are Muslim, the words of encouragement he could give are for everyone affected, and not only foreign nationals.

“We want to inform everyone, not only the Muslims, but everyone affected, that they should not give up; that they should continue to hope. In the hour of distress the Almighty is there … we need to be steadfast and keep our faith, and continue asking and supplicating so that the Almighty can bring relief to every person affected by this.”

He said South Africans have forgotten the role other African countries and their people played in the liberation of the Republic.

“We have a responsibility as Africans to not forget the contribution of fellow Africans during our darkest time, Apartheid. They were there for the South African community, opened their homes to South Africans who sought refuge. It is time for us, to equally open our homes and hearts to these people who find themselves here because of the circumstance they may be facing in their home countries.”

Premier Helen Zille, Cape Town Mayor Patricia De Lille, civil society activists and learners from some schools joined the prayer vigil at the cathedral.

Terreblanche said all South Africans should band together to rid the mentality of foreigners as dangerous or lecherous people.

“We need to come together and make sure that we protect one another, safeguard one another. We need to make sure that we make it easier for others to come here and make a home for themselves.” VOC (Andriques Che Petersen)