A TALENTED 10-year-old with a big heart has put pen to paper to write a song urging the South African government to take action against xenophobic violence.

Dexter Mpofu, the son of Swindon Gospel Choir director Steve, was so upset by the violence in Durban and Johannesburg several weeks ago against migrants accused of taking people’s jobs he decided to take action.

Using his father’s links with the South African music scene, Dexter is now finding his own voice of outrage and is urging others to help him record the song and raise awareness of the attacks.

“I wrote a song for Africa because I couldn’t stand to see the violence,” said the Orchid Vale pupil.

“I saw how it had really upset my dad too and how he wanted to do something about it and I said I would write a song, so I took his place at the keyboard and wrote This Is My Prayer for Africa.

“It took me about a week to write. I’m really pleased with what I achieved. Now I just hope that people will join me in recording it and raising awareness of it to help us send some money to the people in Africa.”

On April 21 violence escalated to such an extent the South African government deployed the army to put down the attacks.

Migrants from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique and other African countries were the main targets of the attacks, which killed seven and displaced a further 5,000 in the space of three weeks previous.

While the intensity of the attacks has quietened since the army was deployed, Steve still says more should be done to raise awareness of their plight.

“I know quite a lot of prominent musicians in South Africa and when it first happened we all started talking to each other and said something needed to be done to raise awareness and to raise some money for the people who have had to flee,” he said.

“I did plan on writing a song myself but when Dexter said he wanted to do it I decided to support him.

“I am so proud of him. To be so affected and so determined to do something about it – I was really moved.

“I have been asking other people to get involved and New College have also agreed to work with us too, so now we are just trying to raise as much support as we can.”

To get involved with the project contact Steve on 07907 033387 or email swindongospelchoir@hotmail.co.uk.