Refugee Service at JL Zwane

Last Sunday, November 29th, JL Zwane hosted a special church service to welcome refugees from the Cape Town Refugee Centre. Instead of preaching to the congregants Rev. Spiwo Xapile made the following statement: "My intention is not to preach today but to listen to your stories." The refugees came from all over the continent of Africa; the Congo, Zimbabwe, Angola, Zambia, Rwanda and Burundi. Appeals were made for South Africans to rid themselves of xenophobia and accept African refugees as human beings. The senior manager of the Western Cape Immigration Office, Richard Sikakane, attended the service and remarked that the influx of foreigners was an overwhelming challenge for the Department of Home Affairs. He commented that: "They are people like us. Let's look at them and treat them like people." It is stated that black-on-black hatred is a big problem in South Africa. One Zimbabwean remarked "Other races don't hate each other but black people hate each other. In Zimbabwe there is no South African or Congolese. We are all one nation." Having to leave their homes, family and country is hard enough for many but to not be accepted in a country of fellow Africans is very confusing to them. They have had their dignity taken away from them and hope someday to be accepted and treated with respect. A young woman from Angola stood on stage and recited a poem she wrote on xenophobia, the congregants were on their feet applauding her, this time she felt loved and accepted.

During the course of the service, Siyaya, the musical group from the JL Zwane Centre, performed songs of hope and love inspiring the congregants to get up on their feet and dance and sway with exuberance. Great Sound of Vision, a band made up of blind refugees from Zimbabwe assisted by Zimbabwean musician Patricia Matongo, had the crowd screaming for more. Near the end of the service Rev. Spiwo asked all the children to come to the front of the stage. They all ran up together, his words to them were: "All I want you to do today is go out there and play together, just play together as children!"

Those words ring true for both children and adults, just go out there and play together!

Photos: 1. Rev. Spiwo, elders of JL Zwane and Rev. Mel assisting in the service.

2. Siyaya performing their songs of inspiration.

3. Great Sound of Vision and twins Obey and Gracious.

Bye for now...