Well in a country is still beset by mass unemployment, grinding poverty and rising crime 26 years after the end of apartheid. Signs of separation are everywhere. Africans have to stand and wait for their bossesin to stand and wait for their bosses in the sun. An empty seat may be a few yards away. They cannot sit on it. The violence last october in johannesburg was one of many periodic flareups in the last decade or so. In 2008, 62 people died when mobs beat foreigners and set buildings alight. Afrophobic attacks sparked outrage in africa, but the country which had been supported by fellow black africans during the apartheid era could now be home to such sentiment. So, is south Africa Afrophobic . If it is, what is fuelling this, and is enough being done to ensure that such attacks never happen again . So, a brief background to the topic we are discussing. Lets meet our panel. Khulu mbatha is special adviser to president Cyril Ramaphosa, who of course is leader of the ruling party, the anc. Khulu mbatha was a special envoy for the president to several african countries at the end of last year, trying to reassure them after the latest bout of attacks a few months ago. Lindiwe mazibuko was parliamentary leader for the democratic alliance, south africas official opposition. She was the first black person in this role, and is now active in politics at the grassroots level. Trevor ncube is a zimbabwean newspaper publisher and businessman whos built a very successful career in both south africa and zimbabwe, and he was a prominent critic of the former president robert mugabe. And adetu nji omotola is a nigerian journalist and media personality. Hes lived in south africa for nearly 20 years and works in the community with expatriate africans living in this country. That is our panel. Please give them a warm round of applause. Applause. And before we go to our first question, remember, you can join the conversation. Its bbcgiobalouestions. Alright, without further ado, lets go to our first question. Jean marie, and youre originally from the drc. Jean marie, your question please. My question is addressed to dr mbatha, but also to the rest of the panel. The question is, why are black africans always a soft target of xenophobic attack in south africa . Dr khulu mbatha, straight to you. Thank you. They are soft targets because of the area in which they live. This is not happening in hospitals, where we have doctors from all over africa. Its not happening in suburbs like sandton, where we have a lot of businesspeople coming from the african continent. Its happening in the townships, where there are scarce resources, and foreigners become easy targets because the rule of law in such areas is very much difficult to implement. 0k. Lindiwe, why are black africans always the soft target of every xenophobic attack . I mean, i think we underestimate the extent to which the system of apartheid in this country, which categorised people based on their skin colour, to within an inch of their identity penciltesting, dividing families along colour lines engendered in peoples minds the idea that theres a hierarchy of race. And i think for many black South Africans, to find themselves, post apartheid in democratic south africa, with a lack of access to economic opportunities, theyre looking for who is lower down that totem pole to victimise. And racism is so fundamentally embedded in the fabric of South Africans identity, i think as black South Africans, we battle with issues of low self esteem as a consequence of our history. You call it racism, though black on black . Absolutely, black on black racism. But these are people you cant even tell the difference between how they look. But black South Africans, out of a system that really worked hard to thin slice people into categories, look for that category that they perceive to be lower down the totem pole, more vulnerable, and less entitled to access to resources. I think its something thats embedded in our history, in our psyche, and its a consequence of trauma that we havent properly addressed. Adetunji. And the reason why that is the case is, my sense is, ive been in this country for about 20 years, and when i first arrived here, even at the highest levels, people when i called them to try to sell them insurance, once they hear that im a nigerian, automatically they switch off or they tell me face to face, do i have drugs to sell . So theres a narrative, especially in South African media, that has now been taken on by politicians who are looking for short term gains, especially around elections, there is a narrative that crime in this country is committed by other africans, in spite of the fact that we know that most crimes in this country are committed by africans. And as a result of that, a lot of South Africans have a deep seated anger towards particularly groups like nigerians or zimbabweans, and thats what we saw a few months ago play out on a massive level. And even people like a gentleman i dont want to mention his name, a lawyer who goes on television and castigates nigerians, and it was a massive programme that was watched by all South Africans. So i think the media have done a lot of damage, and i think thats the reason why the thing went viral so quickly. cause they keep reporting about negatives about africans, all the time, and that is very tragic. All right, thank you for that. Trevor. I think apartheid told black South Africans that they might have been oppressed and poor, but they were better than the africans in the north of south africa. So, when they see other africans within their locality, they look down upon them and they think that they are superior. Much more importantly, i think its important to realise that xenophobe afrophobic attacks are never spontaneous. They are instigated by people, politicians, with something to benefit from these afrophobic attacks. They are in the townships, where the Common People are used as pawns in a big political game. Its like starting a war so that you draw attention away from the problems that you have within your domestic within your backyard. Applause. We got this via social media. As i say, you can follow this conversation on social media, and one viewer says i would like to know what criteria makes an altercation between foreign nationals and local people xenophobic. How do you know its afrophobia . The optics are very visible. Ive never seen a single white person that has been subjected to such barbaric attacks. So its very obvious, whether its 2015, whether its the rosettenville attacks, whether its in alex, whether its in langa. So its notjust there arent just altercations, as this person is asking, which are not necessarily afrophobia . Lindiwe. I think its tempting for political leaders, for governments, whether theyre instigators of this violence or whether theyre trying to paper over it, to sort of call it criminality, in an effort to not project such a bad image of the country. But i dont think that you can solve a problem, i dont you can solve it effectively, without first identifying it. And i really do think i appreciate the fact that youve honed in on afrophobia as opposed to xenophobia, because i dont think what we experience in this country is experienced by europeans, or australians, or north americans. It is exclusively black africans who are targeted, and thats an issue in need of addressing. Zeinab, let mejump in there and say. Trevor. For me, ive had specific, direct, one on one conversations with one of south africas most powerful millionaires, saying to me, we know you people. We see what you do. Dont think that we dont see what you do. And dont think that this is spontaneous. Theres political gains that come out of this. All right, and he said that specifically about zimbabweans, or just non South Africans . Its about africans driving big cars in sandton, to start off with. Its about the africans in soweto, who are thought to be doing well, who are supposed to be having businesses and that kind of stuff. So its very clearly targeted at black africans. And particularly rich black africans, such as you . Do you feel it more that they think, what is this guy. cause you lived here for 18 years. Well, lets be clear about this. Afrophobia is present in corporate boardrooms in south africa. Afrophobia is present strongly in government corridors in south africa. Applause. I went iwent and i went and spent some time in soweto. And they said why would we want to be mad at the person who brings a spread . It is only when they tell them that person is my enemy that they attack them. Well, lets go to our next question, please. Your question, please. This question is for all the panellists. Do you think the South African government acknowledges that there is a strong current of afrophobia in the country . Canl can ijust can i just ask you, quickly, can ijust ask you, quickly, do you think they are in denial . Is that your personal view . Yes. They are in denial. I dont agree that what you say is afrophobic is correct. You are at the highest upper echelons of the anc authorities. Youre adviser to president Cyril Ramaphosa. Why is the government in denial about the state of afrophobia . It is criminal, it is where there is a fight resources. And there is a fight resources. And the black majority was repressed and they will be the first ones to feel there are scarce resources , first ones to feel there are scarce resources, absence of jobs, and so on. You give reasons. Does the government accept that there is. You know, the question is, why would the South African government not acknowledge that there is a strong current of afrophobia . You wont acknowledge it. No, i wont acknowledge it. All right, so what would you say to dr khulu mbatha . I would have to agree. I think the government is in denial. I do think that there have been attacks on African Nationals, and they. I think its quite frightening and disappointing that theyre not acknowledging these attacks. Applause. Let me say this. Yep, do respond to her. Yes. We south africa is the only country in africa with a constitution that allows and gives rights to all people who live in south africa, including including Asylum Seekers and refugees. Jeering. 0k, iagree. You are here in south africa because south africa is different from the countries where you come from. Jeering. You are here in south africa. We have Asylum Seekers and we have refugees. Im not most of the people are coming here because there are more opportunities of getting jobs. All right, lindiwe lindiwe. So i think this is a common problem with government at the national level. Weve experienced with this gender based violence, right, a sort of a reluctance to say theres a pattern of criminality, that the criminality isnt arbitrary, that it happens to a certain targeted group. Gay women in informal settlements who are correctively raped, women who suffer from gender based violence, and now here, afrophobia that targets black african foreigners. Applause. I dont think it diminishes us as a society to acknowledge that these are problems. It empowers us to cauterise them, identify them, identify who the ringleaders are when these things are organised, educate our people, and do what we can to, from an education and from a Crime Prevention perspective, stem this tide. I think denialism only has the effect of exacerbating the problem. Applause. Trevor, you wanted to come in here, and then adetunji. I think, for me, what is sad is that we have a generation of the anc and the pac that spent time physically on the continent, and have an experience of what africa and africans are like, in terms of being welcoming and supporting the liberation struggle. But the point that i want to say is that lets reflect back. Every time theres an afrophobic attack, prior to that, theres a big politician who says something which stirs up things, and after that, there is a reluctance in terms of the speed with which to contain the violence that flows out of that. For me, that says, one, theres a denial to admit that this issue exists. The criminality thing is a bit problematic. Its afrophobic, period. It needs to be dealt with like that. Adetunji. For this kind of scenario, i like to quote my late father, who says that one must accept that they are part of the problem and they are part of the solution. The government of south africa is indirectly creating an environment where South Africans who are poor find expression of their frustration attacking other africans. But what is also important is that, if you look at south africa, they say nonracial, nonsexist, so it would be very, very worrying for the government of south africa to accept that South Africans are afrophobic. But not only that, south africas interests around africa, for example nigeria, theres a huge interest that south africa has. So its very difficult for the government be able to accept that they are the citizens are afrophobic, because there could be counter reactions or reprisals, as we saw in other parts of the continent. Just very quickly, khulu mbatha, when you went and visited all those african president s at the end of last year as a special envoy for president ramaphosa, did the president s like buhari of nigeria, macky sall in senegal and Nana Akufo Addo in ghana, there was a lot of anger across the continent. Did they say to you, we think south africa is afrophobic . No, not at all. In fact, they were more appreciative of the fact that south africas democracy is still new, 25 years. Actually, almost all of them have said to us, they grew up in their own struggles, having the ideas that originated from South African leaders, because the African National congress is the oldest political organisation. In fact, some of them even identify themselves as founding members of the anc. So they werent hostile in their views by saying. They were not hostile. They understood. All of what they said, they emphasised the fact that rule of law must apply. So the president s. The police must do their work, which we admitted that police have not done their work. Yes, dr khulu, i find that hard to believe. Well, hes telling you that the president s told him. The president of nigeria, macky sall from senegal, they all left the World Economic forum in cape town, following the most recent attacks. They all boycotted that meeting. Last year. Because of a feeling of unwelcomeness in our country. Ok, lets go to our next question. Sean, your question please. South africa has experienced an extended period of challenging Economic Conditions. Do such Economic Conditions have apart to play in occurrences of xenophobia . Khulu mbatha. South africa is facing a lot of problems in terms of creating jobs, the economy, because of its nature. It has been affected by what has been happening internationally. It has not grown to the promises of growing the economy at a rate of 6 , it has not happened. This as a result, therefore, is reflected both socially and otherwise in the way life is experienced by ordinary people. And we can agree, its not experienced the same at all levels in all communities of south africa, but its felt worse in the townships. Trevor . Well, the economic crisis that i am experiencing, but south africa is experiencing, does play some role in this afrophobia thing. But it is also used by politicians in terms of pointing out, if those foreigners were not there, you would have the jobs. If they left, you would have the jobs. But it is. But that is actually not true. In certain instances, yes, but in certain instances, some of these people are either. They have become entrepreneurs, some of them have skills that South Africans do not have. So there is a Political Class that is exploiting the circumstances that south africa faces at the moment to benefit themselves, in terms of whipping up emotions to get support using foreigners. Is that the case . I have spoken to a highly educated women here in south africa he says that the woman who does her washing says, i cant get enough work because all these migrants come from other parts of the continent, they are undercutting me. They will work for much less. I can barely survive. Well, that could be. That does happen. That could be true, but i think the other thing that is important for us to emphasise is that there is a real hatred for africans. Know, butjust address that point that has been put to me. It does happen, doesnt it . They are undercut. Before we admit to that, you get told this over and over again, zeinab, that you are where you are because of the foreigners. You believe it. In actual fact, when its actually not true. And thats what the politicians are using. 0k. Adetunji. Look, i believe that there was a time when there was a boom in south africas economy, and everyone was happy, and South Africans were drinking a lot of champagne, competing with nigerians. Now that the economy has gone to low growth, we see in more and more frustration, what they say, rising expectations is a rise in frustration. Theres a lot of South Africans who are now seeing as competing forjobs. Some foreigners are doing crime, and so as a result, they are scapegoating them. But the fact is that there are many poorer countries in africa. Nigeria is the poorest people on earth, but we dont see nigerians going to attack other foreigners, african foreigners. Theres a lot of South Africans. I think the last count there were 31,000 South Africans working in nigeria. So the reality is that, i think the general feeling about africans is that they are taking jobs, they are taking women, and they are doing crime, and thats why they see the attacks. 0k. If i may, would you say that is a majority of black South Africans . Look, my own experience is unique. I used to work for a very big insurer, so i had racism on the left, because it was white controlled, and i had xenophobia on the right hand side. And the reason why my black mothers and sisters were jealous of me was because i used to go out every single day and network, and i was top of my branch, and they didnt like me for that. They were scratching my car and writing all sorts of things on it. So my personal experience about xenophobia, even at the highest levels of this country. But the advantage i have got is that i have lived in europe before, so i have been able to cope with racism. Otherwise, those who havent had racism like i have done, they cant cope. So do you discount the Economic Conditions as well . So i dont, i dont at all, and i think that Economic Conditions all over the world are making people vulnerable to xenophobic ideas. You know, you alluded to making south africa great again. I think the same has happened in countries like the uk, parts of europe, where immigrants, refugees, migrants, economic and otherwise, our scapegoats for economic problems domestically. So as much as we may say black african foreigners are soft targets for violence in this country, black South Africans who are unemployed and struggling economically are soft targets for nonsense Politics Around staring up afrophobia. We need to acknowledge peoples lived experience, and we need to acknowledge the economic difficulties that are making them vulnerable to these kinds of messages, and making violence easier to spark in our communities. Thank you, all right. Applause. Trevor, i hear you. We have a population of almost 60 Million People stop of these 60 Million People, we have minorities, whites, coloureds, and indians, they dont come up to 10 million. So we have about 50 something million black people. We have 188,000 Asylum Seekers. We have 78,000 refugees. Would you say 50 million black people hate other africans . I cant accept that. I think it would be unfair to say the entire 50 million black South Africans are afrophobic. The victims of these attacks are black people and that is what makes us angry, black people and that is what makes us angry, that is what puts shame on us us angry, that is what puts shame on us is south africa. I cannot say that these 56 Million People, all of them, hate africans. Could ijust jump them, hate africans. Could ijust jump in. You can afterwards, but it was addressed to trevor. I think it would be unfair to say the entire 50 million black South Africans are afrophobic. Nobody is saying that. There are South Africans who are pan african, who love their african brothers, and so forth. Were talking about the major narrative. The trend that we are seeing. Remember, weve seen South Africans marching against the afrophobic attacks, so there is a body of South Africans who are not afrophobic. But there is a bigger body of South Africans who are afrophobic, and who are out on the streets and marching and killing people and burning people. Those are the pictures that are out there. Thats the reality that people are living. Im happy you are making it relative, because you are talking in absolute terms. Lindiwe. We have to generalise this problem in order to solve it. If i say there is a gender based violence problem in this country, im not saying every single man in this country as a wifebeater or a rapist. Im saying we have a pervasive problem amongst men that needs addressing. And i dont think that undermines us as a country. I think it empowers us to solve that problem. So that the minority who are doing these things dont start to represent us as a country. So you say quite clearly a minority. Adetunji, do you think it is a minority . Because that is the point that is being made here. Khulu, my own take on this is very simple. And thats why we set up the xenophobia victim support fund. If the majority of South Africans are not afrophobic, why is it that when theres these attacks, in the aftermath of these like the 501 nigerians who had to be evacuated, the suffering, the level of suffering of those women, mostly women and children, i didnt see a lot of South Africans try and weigh in and support them. I didnt see the gift of the givers running to the nigerian consulate. So its a way that the government responds to this pain and misery of so many africans that will give us the feeling that maybe, perhaps, its a widespread narrative. So you dont think it is just a minority, as lindiwe says. No, i think, look, i am suspicious of anything that gives the impression that its not the majority, because the facts on the ground do not show that the majority address it. No, and let me be clear. Its a minority who are engaging in a surveillance that we saw on television. Engaging in the acts of violence. That doesnt mean that we dont have a pervasive anti african language and discourse in this country. So even as weve been talking today, weve been talking about africa like it this faraway place, like were not in africa. Weve been talking about africans like we are not africans, right . So. So even that mentality of thinking of black africans from other parts of the world as, like, different to us, and is living elsewhere, thats a pervasive problem in our language. It doesnt mean were going out and doing violence, but it means we have a social problem that we havent addressed properly. Applause. Ok, thank you very much indeed. Lets go to our next question. Good evening, everyone. I just wanted to ask, if this is specifically an african tragedy, or are we experiencing it in the same vein in other parts of the world . Trevor ncube. I think we are seeing a lot of xenophobia across the world. Theres been a pushback with the fallout from globalisation, where people are beginning to get back to being more tribal and more ethnic than we have been before. But i think that difference is the degree with which violence is part of the afrophobia narrative in south africa. Its the sense that the South African government takes a backseat and does not take ownership and does provide leadership, the sense that somebody out there is stoking the fires. So the answer, the short answer to your question is, its a global phenomenon, but its the extent of the violence and the complicity of the officials in south africa which makes it look slightly different. Adetunji, you see this everywhere in the world, do you . We dont see anywhere in africa where we see black people going after other black people. So we need to situate this in africa first. And one of the cases that i want to bring to light is a young man who was killed on april 21 by a mob in rostenburg. The Police Watched the mob sat him alight, a nigerian guy, 31 years old who left a widow with two children. So we dont see a lot of that around the world, but we do know that we see yugoslavia, see all kinds of craziness going on, but the one in south africa is very worrying, especially when it gets widespread like the recent one that we saw. So it is an african tragedy. I mean, i would disagree slightly, not to diminish the level of crisis here, but you find in countries where hate crimes are at their highest levels since before the second world war, right, where brown people were are targeted by anti immigration sentiment. It is a pattern thats replicated all over the world, and it tends to happen when there is economic contraction, when people dont have access to jobs, where they feel like their likelihood of having a prosperous life is under threat. It becomes very easy to target brown people. Again, this idea that you must look for the nearest person who is struggling more than you are, and attack and blame them for your challenges. Because of the Economic Situation in the world, and because of what is happening in europe, a car mowed down more than ten people in germany, and they happen to be foreigners, so attacks on immigrants happen everywhere. Youre referring to the attack. It does notjustify what is happening in south africa. What im trying to say, its an international phenomenon. Ok, youre referring to the attack earlier this month just outside frankfurt, when a self confessed far right nationalist opened fire on a cafe frequented by people of middle eastern origin. Ok, thank you. Lets go on to our next question. Hi, yes. I would like to ask dr mbatha a question, whos here representing the government. What steps is the government taking to, you know, fix the problems of afrophobia . For example, you said yourself theres188,000 asylum applications. Research has found that this is a huge backlog, and will take many years to work through. And this leaves people vulnerable. So its really difficult for people to get the proper documentation to work here, to live here, and to be allowed, you know, to prosper and thrive. And i would like to know what the government is doing to fix that and tackle that. Thanks. Applause. First, i must mention that the un commissioner for refugees has been to south africa last year in septemberto meet with the president and to cement the infrastructures that have been created by the United Nations in south africa. We have now a un co ordinating body which works with Civil Society and the government. Weve created agencies that will deal with the most, most affected, especially those who come with children, that they get houses and also get social grants. So there are structures that are being created to deal specifically with the issue of Asylum Seekers. Asylum seekers, ok. And refugees. And specifically on the wider issue of afrophobia, which is also implicit in that question, what steps is the government taking to try to ensure that this doesnt continue to be a trend, as trevor ncube has described it. Yes, also government has also said that we need to realise that we have to take political education to the schools, so that South Africans can teach other South Africans that our struggle would not have succeeded without the support from african countries and the international community. Applause. Do you want to come back on that . Are you satisfied with that reply . Thank you, sir. I do think, however, that there is a duty on the government as well. So its good to say that the un is coming here. But if you go to a Refugee Reception Office tomorrow morning, you will find people who are waiting outside who are being bribed, being asked for bribes, put it this way, being asked to prove that theyre gay, if they come and they say that theyve actually fled a country because theyre being persecuted there. And so i do think that theres a duty on the government to talk about how the broken asylum system will be fixed, and that people can get properly documented, and can be safe in south africa. Thank you. Lets go to our next question. What i would like to know is, how do you persuade South Africans, in order to have a healthy society, that they have to embrace the whole of africa and all of africans, into making in search of a healthier society . Also these other stakeholders that play a part in the situation. Thank you. Adetunji, what would you suggest should be done . I think South Africans are very lucky to have a president who is now the chairman of the african union, and also the secretary general of the africa Continental Free Trade Area is a South African. He actually beat a nigerian lady to the job. I was telling khulu earlier how we always tend to fight, nigeria and south africa. We like fighting. Let me just explain very quickly, the africa Continental Free Trade Area agreement, it was signed last year. And the idea is to remove about 90 of import tariffs, to encourage greater trade on the continent of africa. Yeah, deeper regional integration. So the opportunity for president Cyril Ramaphosa you were his advisor, you can take this to him. This year, theres17 african countries that will turn 60. Cameroon, nigeria, benin, and so on senegal. And so all those countries because they got their independence in what they call the year of africa. So South Africans would be well advised to rally round those countries, their communities, and do some kind of social cohesion engagement, not just in the month of may, that we see in africa month, but every single country of the 17. But also zimbabwe will turn 40. Namibia will also turn 30. So those are low hanging fruit for South Africans. But also the civil education or political education, it needs to start immediately. We want timelines. We dont want, government will do this, and theres timeline. So i think that would help. But also whats important, the gentleman over there talked about people being able to have right of access, in and out. Theres so many people that are trapped in this country, that cannot even go and see a loved one, they cannot go and bury their mother, because if they go out, they wont be able to come back in. Thats a tragedy, in my view. So there are some of the things that the government should do. So you would like more open borders. Exactly. Well, not open open, but controlled open. I willjust i will just let trevor answer, because hes not really. I think its important that the story of south africas liberation is told in full, and becomes part of the curriculum in schools, so that South Africans understand the sacrifice that africa went through to help with the liberation of south africa. Thats hugely important. For me, thats the beginning. That the leaders, the Senior Leaders in the anc, who lived in exile, tell of their stories, like was being told, of how they were the hospitality that they received from africans, so that the young South African whos growing up realises the connection that there is between them and other africans. Because there is, at the moment, some people that want to say, no, that happens in the past. It doesnt belong now. But, if you make that disconnection, you are denying the Younger Generation to understand why this countrys the way it is, and the role that africa played in getting south africa to where it is right now. Khulu mbatha, i mean, weve mentioned the africa continental free trade agreement. There are benefits for South Africans, arent there . If they orientate themselves towards africa, the rest of africa, economically and so on, its good and healthy for your society. Before i come to that, let me explain that last year, president ramaphosa undertook state visits to various west african countries. And in these visits, there were issues of cultural links with west africa, cultural agreements. There were issues of waiving of visa requirements for special categories signed with nigeria, ghana, senegal, togo, and so on. This is to encourage the Free Movement of people and goods. And therefore, with the signing of the africa Continental Free Trade Area, or agreement, then its the area. It gives us an opportunity. To do what the founders of the oau and now the au had imagined. That africa will co operate with africa in terms of trade, in terms of economy. We must know that this is not an easy road. I can speak about the many positives that go with that, but we must know that that is another struggle, because african countries have bilateral relations with their former colonisers. So we have to undo all that. But its an initiative that our president has said we must take and put as uppermost, because we must do away with all that that stops us from trading amongst each other. We must improve the infrastructure, the ports, the railway lines, the airlines. All these have to be addressed. But its a noble aspiration, as far as the South Africans are concerned. Yes. Very quickly. These are all incredibly important initiatives, and i think will contribute to an understanding of how we got to where we are today. But i think xenophobia and afrophobia will thrive on ignorance as long as ignorance persists. So one of the things we need to do is create more opportunities for South Africans to interact with, on a daily basis, in healthy, productive ways, the culture, the music, the cinema, the history, of other african countries, so that they can own this continent. Not as a place thats far away, but as a place that they reside in and that they contribute to, and that they are as much a part of as their fellow citizens in nigeria, in benin, et cetera. All right, lets go to our final question now. Your question please. What are the ways of uniting the brothers, african brothers, living in south africa . So thats my point. Thank you, what are the ways to unite african brothers, and sisters, i assume, living in south africa . Trevor ncube. We need to have those person to person interactions, getting to understand each other at that level, and coming up with practical ways of how it is better how it is easy for me to understand my brother from nigeria, my brother from ghana, my brother from zimbabwe, and so forth. We need to create those platforms. It needs to be encouraged. It needs to be cultivated. We need to realise that we are one people, we are all african, we belong together. The success of zimbabwe is the success of south africa. We belong together, at the end of the day. Adetu nji omotola. Yeah, i believe in the power of celebration. Im from a tribe in nigeria called the ijebu people. We have the best parties in nigeria. So we need to come together and celebrate what unites us. Our culture is very vibrant, our music, our food. Im sure youve heard of the jollof rice wars. Between nigeria and ghana, we need to have more jollof rice competitions, amongst ourselves. And senegal. I like dombolo and mogodu, and kombu tea. But the irony is when you come to soweto, you cant even find kombu tea on vilakazi. So we need to celebrate what unites us, and also engage more with the communities that we come from, so South Africans need to get into the Nigerian Community and we need to get into the gabonese community, and all of that, by extension. Khulu mbatha. What president buhari of nigeria and president akufo addo of ghana emphasise is the involvement of the youth. If we have youth and cultural activities, youth that lives in nigeria and comes to south africa, and south African Youth that goes to all the countries in africa, that way, we would have done we have taken the step of uniting africa further. And lindiwe mazibuko. I think visibility is important. I think that leaders, community leaders, from other african countries in south africa need to be more visible, more engaged in the discourse. The media needs to not talk about africans from other countries without them being present in the discussion. And i think South Africans need to be able to find role models and people with whom they identify who are not necessarily from the same country. So i dont think South Africans or africans can see each other in an inspiring and admiring way until visibility and representation is improved. Thank you very much indeed. Of course, that ends this edition of global questions. Thank you very much indeed to our panel and to our audience here, and the rest of you, wherever you are watching or listening following us on social media, until the next time, from global questions, and whole of the team here at fox junction, johannesburg, from me, zeinab badawi, goodbye. Applause. Hello there. Weve seen the rainfall from storm jorge compounding the flood issues. There are numerous flood warnings in force across the united kingdom, and storm jorge is Still Producing some very large gusts of wind as well from these tightly packed isoba rs, and several more hours of that to come, really, through sunday morning. Now, those gusts of wind are quite likely to cause some travel disruption, but could also bring down some powerlines or some trees as well. Now, theyll still be with us through the early hours and into sunday morning. But, as well as that, weve got this curl of rain just affecting the northern half of the uk. But its notjust rain, its snow to modestly low hills about 200 metres. So, with those strong winds, itll be blowing around, so blizzard conditions. Fewer showers further south, but theyll still be around, blown in by that very strong and gusty wind. Temperatures largely just above freezing, but its clearly going to be icy where weve got the snow in particular. And still that rain keeps coming for the northern isles, tending to ease a little bit through orkney as we go through the day. But that rain, snow, slowly meanders northwards. More of it around, i think, for scotland than we had on saturday, but tending to become more showery for northern ireland, for england and wales. Wont be a totally dry day, but hopefully therell be more sunshine around, and the winds by the afternoon are starting to ebb away, just maintaining their strength a little bit for longer further north. But itll make it feel chilly if youre out and about. For the start of march, barely double figures, even in the south. Below par really, you might say, the temperatures, for the start of the meteorological spring. And then this area of rain is a concern through the night. As it comes across, we think, southern parts, its falling into cold air, it could give a smattering of snow for the downs, for the cheltenhams potentially, towards rush hour, and certainly making things slippery. With a colder night on the cards, fairly widespread frost, as you can see, going into monday morning. So we clear that away, but it takes its time. As i say, could be a smattering of snow on the hills. And then the showers that follow, because its still cold air, will be wintry as well over the hills, so only 6 9 degrees celsius. Yes, the winds wont be as strong, however. Now, as we take that one area of low pressure away later on monday, weve got another one rushing in towards southern areas. That could be our next dollop of rain. Potentially need to keep an eye on it. All through the week, it looks as if low pressure will dominate towards the north west, and we may eventually see High Pressure building, actually, towards the south. But for most of the week, temperatures will be lower than they should be, both by day and night, so some night frost. And its a bit of a showery picture, with an occasional risk of some lengthier spells of rain. As ever, there are warnings out. They are on the website. Welcome to bbc news. Im simon pusey. Our top stories a boost for bidens bid to take on trump. The former Vice President secures a much needed win in south carolinas democratic primary. The press and the pundits have declared this candidacy dad. Now, thanks to all of you, the heart of the democratic party, we have just one, heart of the democratic party, we havejust one, and heart of the democratic party, we have just one, and weve won big because of you the us sees its first death from the coronavirus, but donald trump calls for calm and says Everything Possible is being done. A moment of history the United States and the taliban sign a deal that its hoped will end 18 years of war in afghanistan. A shock