Community Conversations to Promote Social Cohesion

To address community violence and the increasing number of attacks against migrants, the NMF has a two-year pilot programme to promote social cohesion by arranging meetings in a safe place where host and migrant communities can come together to discuss the challenges they face, while at the same time looking for sustainable solutions. The community dialogues are preceded by meetings with key stakeholders and social mobilisation events and culminate in discussions designed to provide an opportunity for the community to create concrete plans to tackle the challenge of violence and xenophobia.

The community conversations programmes are using the Community Capacity Enhancement (CCE) methodology originally developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Community conversation teams are trained in the methodology. They facilitate conversations in their respective communities and meet regularly to gather feedback and to review the theory and application of the CCE method and tools.

The initiative aims to facilitate 30 dialogues in five South African provinces, focusing on certain local sites in each of the selected provinces. Community Conversations have been taking place in Gauteng, the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu Natal and have included the following:

• African history shines light on community life, September 14 2009: This community conversation on social cohesion sought to create a safe space where "ordinary people could open up and talk - and start to act constructively."
• Community conversation in Albert Park, August 15 2009: This is where many migrants live and was the setting for a community conversation to promote social cohesion among residents.
• Khayelitsha dialogue rejects violence on Mandela Day, July 20 2009: On the first Mandela Day, July 18 2009, the community of Khayelitsha in Cape Town convened its second community conversation on social cohesion. Forty-three people attended the event. They honoured the meaning of Mandela Day by discussing social issues such as xenophobia and tried to come up with solutions.
• Social cohesion in the spotlight, July 17 2009: Media stereotypes about migrants and the need for government to condemn violence more strongly were discussed at the first meeting of the Social Cohesion Reference Group at the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
• Healing starts with understanding history, June 20 2009: The need for healing to overcome the divisions of the past emerged as the central concern at a community conversation in Atteridgeville, near Pretoria. Organised by the Nelson Mandela Foundation in partnership with the Sonke Gender Justice Network, the Jesuit Refugee Services, the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, the National Children’s and Violence Trust, and the Somali Association of South Africa, the community conversation in Atteridgeville was the first of a series of community dialogues in the Gauteng province to promote social cohesion in communities affected by violence and xenophobia.

Xenophobia, Human Rights

According to the organisers, the growing incidents of community violence and, particularly, the increasing number of attacks against migrants are of serious concern. NMF hopes to help redress the situation by facilitating and encouraging meaningful conversations between all relevant stakeholders.