Soweto illegal immigrants protests_Soweto illegal immigrants protests773 Scores of Soweto residents took to the streets calling for illegal immigrants to leave South Africa before the June 30 deadline. GOOD Party councillor Roscoe Palm argues that the Democratic Alliance cannot distance itself from South Africa's current wave of anti-migrant politics, alleging the party helped legitimise exclusionary rhetoric through past political strategies and messaging. In this opinion piece, Palm criticises Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis' response to the displacement of migrants, accusing the DA of reacting too slowly while failing to confront its own historical role in shaping anti-immigration narratives. He contends that meaningful leadership requires both defending constitutional rights and acknowledging the political decisions that, in his view, contributed to the current climate.
Last week, DA Leader Geordin Hill-Lewis offered pure rhetoric in his choreographed condemnation of the Afrophobic March on March movement.
Many days later, after the City’s conspicuous absence and inaction was made to look utterly shameful by the on-the-ground work of organisations like Gift of the Givers and the Siyafana Sonke Action Campaign - and only after forcing displaced Zimbabweans to endure another night sleeping rough outside the consulate - the city finally shifted these refugees and their municipal responsibility to a Home Affairs repatriation centre. Out of sight, out of mind.
