Jozi brings vuvuzela to street fight

24 April 2015 - 02:01 By Katharine Child and Sanya Mansoor

Thousands of people sang, toyi-toyied and blew vuvuzelas and whistles yesterday as they marched in Johannesburg against xenophobia. Traffic came to a standstill in Hillbrow and residents lined the streets to film the march on smartphones."Maybe things are going to change and get better," said Frans Nyathi from Zimbabwe.Nigerian Austin Akanazo said the march made him feel like he belonged in South Africa, but he remained scared of violence.Marchers wore T-shirts stating "I am an African" and "We are all human".Pupils returning home from school joined the march and Ethiopians waved their national flag from balconies .But Ethiopian Mike Hailu said he would follow his relatives' advice and go home next week.Johannesburg resident Nomsa Nkangana said: "It is not enough to vent on social media. I am here in person to say we are embarrassed and ashamed about what is happening right now."Methodist Bishop Paul Verryn said though xenophobia was contemptible, the anger of South Africans "had to be heard and dealt with". He said the fact that 15 million people went to bed hungry was "treason".Gauteng premier David Makhura called for all Africans to attend an African Day Celebration on Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown in May. He asked foreigners to wear their nation's traditional dress...

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