Xenophobia Is Not the Way
As Africa and the world look on in horror, groups of South
African hooligans are hunting other Africans from across the
continent living in the country.
The most recent xenophobic attacks by mobs wielding machetes and
knives bring back the painful memories of 2008, when the country
was wracked by violent scenes of assaults on nationals of other
African countries. We have seen this movie before - and it's not
pleasant viewing. In fact, xenophobic attacks are an ongoing
occurrence across the country, with the latest outbreak said to
have been prompted by a speech made in April by the Zulu ethnic
group leader King Goodwill Zwelethini. Zwelethini told his
followers that foreigners were linked to crime and should pack up
and go. However, later he denied he had sparked the violence,
saying his words were taken out of context.
Unemployed disgruntled sections of South African communities
blame African foreign nationals for taking "their" jobs
away, undermining locally owned businesses, and contributing
to a high crime rate. Jobs in South Africa are already scarce, with
the unemployment figure in 2014 topping 25 percent - more than 5
million people. Analysts also point to South Africa's
easy-to-cross-illegally borders, poverty and rising corruption as
reasons for the xenophobic attacks.
The violent attacks do not distinguish between foreigners who
are in South Africa legally and undocumented migrants. Home
Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba was quick to allay fears that the
aggression was against foreigners in general. Responding to a
question by the Chinese media during a press briefing, he said the
violence was in no way aimed at Chinese living in South Africa but
was focused on other African migrants from across the continent. He
also made a call to countries that continue to invest in South
Africa, with the government's assurance that South Africa is a
constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law.
In an effort to distance the attacks from the stigma of
xenophobia, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko described them as
examples of "Afrophobia," which is purely semantics.
Whatever name is used, the situation has damaged South Africa's
image internationally. Protests have already occurred at several of
its embassies in Africa and with many South African businesses
operating across the continent, there are fears that these may be
targeted. Malawi and Zimbabwe were quick to arrange evacuation of
their citizens who feared for their lives from South Africa and
there have been calls from African countries for boycott of South
African goods in a backlash.
President Jacob Zuma and senior officials in the South African
Government have apologized to the rest of Africa for citizens who
have behaved in such a shameful manner, taking steps to eliminate
the attacks, restore peace and assist with repatriation.
South Africans who favor targeting African foreign
nationals need to remember they do not live in isolation. The
relationship with the continent is symbiotic in nature. The
reconciliatory message of Nelson Mandela, the African spirit of
ubuntu (compassion and humanity), and the concept of
Pan-Africanism seem a long way off from the "rainbow nation" right
now. However, hope springs eternal and peace-minded South Africans
are rallying together to show their support and condemn violence as
a solution, no matter what the issues at hand are.
THE EDITOR
|