Apartheid legacy one reason for attacks — Pandor
• Peaceful coexistence was destroyed when frustration over growing poverty grew too much, Pandor tells envoys
International relations and co-operation minister Naledi Pandor met ambassadors and high commissioners from Africa on Monday to ease tension, after diplomatic fallout triggered by attacks on foreign nationals in SA. Pandor told the diplomats that the legacy of apartheid, which caused economic inequality in the country, was to blame for the attacks on Africans by locals, among other explanations. At least 10 people were killed during the attacks and looting.
International relations and co-operation minister Naledi Pandor met ambassadors and high commissioners from Africa on Monday to ease tensions, after diplomatic fallout triggered by attacks on foreign nationals.
Pandor told the diplomats that the legacy of apartheid, which caused inequality in the country, was to blame for the attacks on Africans by locals, among other explanations
The country was hit by a wave of xenophobic violence and looting in the economic hub of Gauteng last week, which overshadowed the World Economic Forum meeting held in Cape Town, where SA hoped to showcase itself and attract much-needed investment. At least 10 people were killed during the course of the week.
This phenomenon is among a “toxic mix of socioeconomic challenges” and should not be overlooked if long-term solutions are to be found to the current crisis, she said.
It was the same situation of poverty, lack of skills and economic inequalities in other African countries that continued to push migrants to the south in a quest for economic opportunities, said the minister.
As this southward migration grows, migrants with criminal intentions are cashing in.
“Hundreds of thousands of poor unskilled, and some skilled, migrants settled in SA and began generating a livelihood from scarce assets and settled peacefully among black people,” the minister said.
“At the same time there arrived migrants whose sole intent was criminal profit and the introduction of illicit activities in SA. Of course, SA has its own criminals and is a deeply violent society, thus the toxic addition of syndicates pushing drugs, prostitution and human trafficking created a basis for conflict and enmity among new neighbours,” Pandor said.
“All this occurred alongside a complex and toxic mix of socioeconomic challenges. The legacy of apartheid was deep and rigidly entrenched inequality for black people.”
“While political and civil freedom soothed the wounds of apartheid, the long-term and worsening economic inequality has deepened resentment and caused antipathy towards brothers and sisters from other African countries, and it is this anger and antipathy that we have to confront, eradicate and respond to.
“Perceptions that black migrants take up black jobs and displace black workers have caused increased deterioration in the relationship.”
Pandor said South Africans, during the early years of the new democratic dispensation, had a “generally peaceful coexistence” with foreigners until desperation and frustration from deepening poverty became too much.
The new democracy brought relaxed immigration laws, leading to an uncontrollable influx of African foreign nationals.
“SA adopted progressive laws on migration and created room for expanded access to the country, with little regard to the needs of immigration management and lack of a plan as to skills or industrial development needs. The policy of refugees was utilised as a basis for demanding asylum, even by residents from countries at peace. Therefore, we need to look beyond this violence to seek answers,” she said.
AT THE SAME TIME THERE ARRIVED MIGRANTS WHOSE SOLE INTENT WAS CRIMINAL PROFIT AND INTRODUCING ILLICIT ACTIVITIES IN SA