A public dispute between eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba and community activist Yeshelen Govender has ended on a conciliatory note after ANC KwaZulu-Natal facilitated talks between the two. Both have acknowledged the need for greater sensitivity when dealing with migration-related tensions.
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has thrown its weight behind eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba following his recent public exchange with community activist Yeshelen Govender, announcing that the two have since held a constructive meeting and resolved their differences.
The confrontation, which took place on June 16 at a makeshift shelter housing Malawian nationals in Sherwood, Durban, sparked widespread public debate and allegations of racial insensitivity after comments made during a heated exchange between the mayor and the activist.
The matter gained further political attention after MK Party MP Visvin Reddy approached the South African Human Rights Commission, calling for Xaba to apologise and face sanctions over what he described as racial discrimination.
However, the ANC says efforts to mediate the dispute have resulted in an amicable outcome.
