Government pledges to ensure unity in communities

The South African government has pledged it would do everything necessary to ensure that Africans, regardless of their origin, will once more live together in peace with one another.
Addressing those who had gathered to remember those who lost their lives during the recent attacks on people from other countries, President Thabo Mbeki reaffirmed that government will reintegrate those who were displaced by the violence. "We are meeting here today to pledge that we will do everything necessary to assist the victims of this criminal onslaught, both the South Africans and our foreign guests, to resume their normal lives," President Mbeki said.
In attendance was Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Ambassadors, High Commissioners, cabinet ministers, faith-based organizations as well as victims of the violence, displaced people and the families of those who died. President Mbeki said government would act without any unnecessary delay to address all concerns which had given birth to the tensions between the local and immigrant Africans.
Government will also entrench the understanding that full acceptance within all communities of new residents from other countries as well as good neighbourhood was needed. "We will work to mobilise all our communities to isolate and defeat the evil elements in our midst who target vulnerable African migrants, subjecting them to violent attacks for criminal purposes and personal again." (BuaNews, Tshwane)