The author of acclaimed book ‘My Blood Divides and Unites‘ Jesmane Boggenpoel will be one of the panelists at the Wits Development and Leadership Unit’s (DLU) roundtable discussion on how to rid South Africa of racial tensions and xenophobia, the institution said on Wednesday.
In a statement, Wits University said discussion points would include building racial cohesion for South Africans “by having discussions that reframe our past, forgiveness for others and ourselves, telling our stories authentically, having empathy for others and coming together to solve the problems for the marginalised”.
“Further debate will take place around our common DNA with ancient migration across Africa, education on the role African countries played in South Africa’s freedom, tackling stigmatisation caused by crime, and holding accountable those corporates who are hiring foreigners and paying them below minimum wages,” it added.
The discussion comes in the wake of attacks on the businesses of mainly African immigrants that have left about a dozen people dead and hundreds arrested.
-ANA, editing by Stella Mapenzauswa
