On Monday 16 May, 2011 five projects located in the townships of the Randfontein Municipality recieved their share of a R80, 000 grant, won by the Randfontein team during the Township Challenge Soccer Tournament which was organized in May-June 2010 prior to the FIFA World Cup.

The tournament was supported by IOM and UNHCR to promote a culture of tolerance, unity in diversity through sports and set the tone for building social cohesion and other integration activities by the SA government and stakeholders. 

A culture of tolerance and co-existence prevailed throughout the tournament, as eight teams comprised of migrants and locals competed for the opportunity to win the cash prize for the communities they live in. Since the tournament, Community discussions challenging discrimination and prejudice have been held, and  Information material on unity and diversity distributed in the participating townships of Randfontein, Kagiso, Khutsong, Mamelodi, Sharpeville, Tembisa, Soshanguve and Orlando (Soweto).

The tournament was part of the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s ‘ONE Movement’ campaign to tackle the societal, racial and ethnic tensions that give rise to discriminatory practices such as tribalism, racism, and xenophobia.

In response to Government’s efforts to promote the reintegration of those displaced,  one of UNHCR’s main objectives is to establish a favorable protection environment for refugees and asylum-seekers in South Africa and has implemented a number of counter-xenophobia activities including the airing of radio dramas and public service announcements

By cooperating together on the Township Challenge and future projects, both UNHCR and IOM hope to promote tolerance for migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in South Africa.

For more information, contact Puseletso Mompei, e-mail: pmompei@iom.int or Tel: +27 12 342 2789 Cell: +27 7168 999 66