Like hordes; they flood in.

Trampling through thorny bushes and fields.

Overpassing rivers with the possibility of being

ingested by ferocious crocodiles.

Crossing borders and jumping fences.

Some conveyed by containers with no air

Others trafficked.

Some will never reach their destination

Some will not get here alive

In South Africa, the land of milk and honey.

They come here with the hopes of a better life

In pursuit of greener pastures

Seeking sanctuary and shelter

Only to be met with hostility,discrimination and hate.

From their fellow brothers and sisters.

They have seen it all: Shed tears and suffered brutality

Only for us to oppress them even further.

Why?

Aren’t we the same people?

Don’t we have the same blood flowing in our veins?

Are we not under the same sun?

Doesn’t the rain fall for us all?

Is it because of our differences in nationalities?

Divided by social constructs by men?

By borders and lines we can’t even see?

Is that what it has come to? Huh?!

We call them,” Makwerekwere” and ” Makwapa”

We hurl all sorts of insults at them.

We loot their shops, beat them or burn them alive

All in the name of protecting “our country.”

But what we fail to realise is that

They all ran away from something:

Unending wars in Congo,

Famine in Ethiopia

Ritual killing in Tanzania

Abductions in Nigeria

Child soldiers in Burkina Faso.

The list is endless.

They come here for new beginnings.

For a better life, economy, education and peace.

They never chose to be who they are.

Never chose to be born in their countries of origin.

But we look down upon them and belittle them.

Why don’t we show love and humanity?

The Ubuntu we always preach about?

We may have differences

Different languages, cultures or skin tones

But our similarities outweigh our differences.

Let us be more empathetic and lend a helping hand

Let us help their fathers provide for their families

Let us help their mothers to love, raise and see their children grow up.

Let us help their sons to drop guns and carry books.

Let us help shield their daughters from danger and help them reach their full potential.

It’s all we have to do.

For they are our brothers and sisters.

Born of the same soil: Africa.