XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The renewed belligerence of the mob is damaging to South Africa’s image and the continent

Now that Nigerian residents in South Africa feel sufficiently threatened enough to alert our government on their fears, it is time to act to save them. But it is also in the interest of South Africa to protect our citizens from what has become hate mongering since they have far more to lose should there be a reciprocal response from the Nigerian authorities

S peaking at a recent rally in the northern KwaZulu-Natal province, Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini, reportedly lamented that foreigners were making life difficult for South Africans by gradually taking over the local economy. According to Zwelithini, who accused the South African government of failing to protect citizens from the influx of foreigners “most government leaders do not want to speak out on this matter because they are scared of losing votes.”

After his lamentation on what he considered an unacceptable state of affairs with regard to the nationals from other African countries who do business in South Africa, the monarch then laid down the law: “we are requesting those who come from outside to please go back to their countries. The fact that there were countries that played a role in the country’s struggle for liberation should not be used as an excuse to create a situation where foreigners are allowed to inconvenience locals. I know you were in their countries during the struggle for liberation. But the fact of the matter is you did not set up businesses in their countries.”

Perhaps to demonstrate that the monarch was not alone, Mr. Edward Zuma, the eldest son of President Jacob Zuma, came out to add fuel to what had already become a raging fire. “We need to be aware that as a country we are sitting on a ticking time-bomb of them (foreigners) taking over the country. The reason why I am saying that is because some of the foreigners are working for private security companies where they have been employed for cheap labour. These companies are running away from complying with South

African labour laws.”

With that statement, it was little surprise that many young South Africans would take the law unto their own hands by attacking the nationals of some other African countries and looting their shops in a sordid replay of the 2008 xenophobic tragedy which led to the killing of 62 persons in Johannesburg townships. And it would mark the second time this year when such attacks, usually directed at African immigrants from countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Mozambique, Somalia and Malawi, would be carried out without consequences.

Noteworthy is the fact that there were forewarnings that the nationals of other African countries running shops, stalls and other businesses within the informal economy were gradually becoming endangered. But the South African authorities have not shown sufficient will or capacity for dealing with the problem. For instance, a 2007 report of the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) had stated that “despite the solidarity and comradeship between black South Africans and the rest of the people of sub-Saharan Africa during the decades of struggle against apartheid and for liberation, foreigners, mostly of African descent, are being subjected to brutality and detention. Xenophobia against Africans is currently on the rise and should be nipped in the bud”.

Unfortunately, those who should work towards redressing the situation were the same people whose utterances were promoting xenophobic behaviour. Now that Nigerian residents in South Africa feel sufficiently threatened enough to alert our government on their fears, it is time to act to save them. But it is also in the interest of South Africa to protect our citizens from what has become hate mongering since they have far more to lose should there be a reciprocal response from the Nigerian authorities as many of our citizens are now openly canvassing.

Considering that South Africans also do businesses and are allowed to move freely in our country without let or hindrance, the federal government must make it very clear to their authorities that they bear responsibility for the lives of Nigerians in South Africa. But beyond that, President Zuma and his government must deal with the challenge of xenophobia that puts a dent on the image of South Africa and has become a big shame for the continent.