Gauteng township Bill is xenophobic – DA

Gauteng Premier David Makhura and the opposition party are seemingly heading for a showdown over claims by the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) that the provincial government’s proposed Township Economy Bill has elements of xenophobia in it. The Star reports the latest allegations against Makhura’s Government were made by the DA’s Makashule Gana who said his party was deeply concerned that the proposed Bill’s main aim was to drive foreign nationals out of townships. ‘We should be looking at building inclusive communities where residents benefit from each other rather than segregating people on the basis of nationality. The manner in which the Bill has been put forward is reminiscent of apartheid spatial planning, which seeks to have designated areas of trade and living for people based on nationality.’ Gana added: ‘This is contrary to the principles of democracy, the Constitution as well as what is set out in the Immigration Act, which makes sure that foreign nationals living in the country are afforded rights,’ he said. According to Gana, the Bill, in its current form, discriminated against foreign nationals and fuelled xenophobia in communities at a time when we (foreigners and locals) needed each other.