A coalition of nongovernmental organisations, trade unions, corporates and faith-based organisations are rallying support for a march through the streets of central Johannesburg in opposition to the xenophobic violence that has rocked two of the country’s largest metropoles and left seven people dead in recent weeks.

The ‘People’s March Against Xenophobia’ would take to the streets on Thursday, when at least 30 000 people were expected to march in solidarity with the primarily poor foreign nationals, migrants and refugees that had been targeted by locals claiming that they had “stolen” jobs rightly belonging to South Africans.

Organised by public interest law centre Section27 and supported by Corruption Watch, the African Diaspora Forum, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Treatment Action Campaign, besides others, the march would come two weeks after xenophobia-driven violence first broke out in Durban before spreading to parts of Johannesburg and driving thousands of foreigners into temporary refugee camps.

The violence flared shortly after Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini was widely quoted as saying that foreigners “should leave the country”.

Ousted Congress of South African Trade Unions general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi told a Monday press briefing at Section27, in Braamfontein, that South African needed to send an unequivocal message to the world that it refused to be represented by a “barbaric minority”.

“Don’t moan, mobilise. [We will not] be limited to expressions of outrage and a condemnation of what we are witnessing. We need to take a stand and communicate that South Africa represents a place where we respect humankind and the democratic rights of every citizen in the world.

“South Africa must stand up and present a different picture than the one the world has been shown. We make a call to every trade union, student [body], youth organisation, religious organisation, business, women’s organisation, [African diaspora] organisation and everyone who is disgusted by these actions to join us,” he said in support of Thursday’s march.

Vavi added that the xenophobic violence represented a displacement and marginalisation of the African working class, which had been forced by the failures of their governments to flee their countries in desperation and in search of opportunities.

“The violence is an expression of the social, economic and political order that has failed mankind…and an expression of the sense of insecurity [of locals, who] go for the soft targets. We said [this] when we saw the violent service delivery protests, that this is a ticking timebomb.

“We are dealing with the crises of unemployment, inequality, criminality and corruption. This xenophobia is an expression of a country in a crisis,” he told journalists.

Underscoring Wits’ support for the march, a strident Wits vice-chancellor Adam Habib took aim at an apparent lack of early action by national government and traditional leadership.

“It’s sad that our political and social leadership took so many days before saying enough is enough. We must take action against those committing murder; it is utterly unacceptable.

“I have never been more ashamed of being South African and that’s the collective feeling of many people in this room and in the country. It’s one of the first times since 1994 that we must hang our heads in shame, in that we are capable of doing what we are doing,” he remarked.

The vice-chancellor said the university was considering implementing a “condoned absence” on Thursday to enable students to attend the march.

SAHRC deputy chairperson Pregs Govender, meanwhile, asserted that the current xenophobic outbreak could have been mitigated had government heeded the recommendations of an earlier report submitted by the commission, in which it warned of the acceleration of resentment against foreign nationals in the country.

“If these [recommendations] were taken account of, this could have been avoided,” she said, adding that the SAHRC was currently investigating human rights violation claims against Zwelithini in relation to his earlier comments.

“We are calling for those in political leadership to understand that your words and actions can influence the way that people live and die…and are calling on the King to disassociate himself from his comments and make it clear the xenophobia is not happening in his name,” she averred.

Govender’s comments came as Zwelithini was quoted by Reuters on Monday as describing the attacks as "vile", but defending himself against claims that previous comments he made about foreigners had fuelled the unrest.

Meanwhile, the Gauteng provincial government (GPG) noted in a statement on Monday that it would embark on a series of engagements with various community leaders, including hostel dwellers leadership, to ensure an end to xenophobia.

The GPG further committed to joining Thursday’s march.

“The attacks violate all the values that our country embodies, especially the respect for human life, human rights, human dignity and ubuntu.

“We encourage the police and other law enforcement agencies to continue working round the clock to protect both foreign nationals and citizens and to arrest those breaking the law,” said Premier David Makhura.

The ‘People’s March Against Xenophobia’ would begin at 13:00 at Peter Roos Park on Empire road at Constitution Hill, in Johannesburg.