Hosted by the Democracy and Governance research programme of the
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the British High CommissionIt is five months since the outbreak of xenophobic violence in South Africa claimed the lives of 60 people and displaced tens of thousands. Why did this happen and what are the lessons that have been learnt? The launch of the HSRC's latest study on what happened in May 2008 and why - aims to provide some answers. In its latest report, Violence and Xenophobia in South Africa: Developing Consensus, Moving to Action  , sponsored by the British High Commission, the HSRC pools common wisdom and experience of immigrant communities, government and civil society and comes up with a series of consensual principles and recommendations that are intended to guide the way toward preventing similar outbreaks and unravelling growing xenophobic attitudes in South Africa. It is hoped these will help to shape thinking and policy on this complex and challenging subject. Following the HSRC's rapid, on-the-ground study into community perceptions on the xenophobic violence (launched at a press conference in Johannesburg in late May 2008, two weeks after the outbreak of violence), a roundtable was hosted to discuss the issues and findings in more detail. Fifty delegates from government, civil society and from affected communities attended a roundtable at the HSRC's Pretoria office to do this in late July. This report is the outcome of the roundtable and contains within it a set of agreements and recommendations that the 50 stakeholders feel will make a difference. The report is being launched at a media conference at Senkopano Community Hall in Alexandra, Johannesburg. The British High Commissioner, Mr Paul Boateng, the CEO of the HSRC, Dr Olive Shisana, and the editor of the report, Dr Adrian Hadland, will speak at the launch. For more information or interviews, call Dr Adrian Hadland, (021) 466 8060; (072) 251 7008; ahadland@hsrc.ac.za.
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