Introduction
According to Mandisi (June 2009) the main thoughts in most South African minds is;
“My worry is that my children are going to be slaves because they won’t have anything. These foreign people come
to South Africa with nothing, but tomorrow he has cash, third day he owns a shop and fourth day he has a car. Where
do these foreign people get this money?”(pg 1)
In fact these are the words spoken by an individual who has resentment towards foreigners in the xenophobic attack that
occurred in the beginning of 2008. It is a question, only a foreigner can answer on their strategical entrepreneurial skills. The UNCHR
(2001) defines xenophobia as the attitudes, prejudices and behavior that reject, exclude and often vilify persons,
based on the perception that they’re outsiders or foreigners of the community, society or national identity. The
editorial (Mail and Guardian, May 2008) mentioned that
“The attacks broke out in a poor neighborhood of Johannes burg on May 2008 and spread across the country
targeting immigrants including Zimbabweans and Mozambicans, whom locals blame for taking their
jobs….
52 of those killed were in Gauteng province, country’s economic capital; Johannes burg, administrative
capital and Pretoria, …..
In total at 6am on Thursday morning we had 62 people had died and 670 injured….
Some died in the hospital.” This toll illustrated the degree into which xenophobia had turned to, a degree of suffering.
A year later from the attacks more information was obtained and the observation mentioned was made by Qudsiya (May 2009)
“Xenophobia attacks rooted in the micro politics of South Africa townships and informal settlements, 62 people
including 21 south Africans were killed, displacing 150 000 people. …… (pg1)
Simultaneously these violent attacks have brought ethnic tensions such as gender discrimination, high crime rates,
organized violence and high absenteeism in the workforce area. These attacks don’t guarantee a solution to the problem
because these problems are self inflicted when the government diverges its attention form improving the economic status into the security of its
citizens. In the period of the previous two years South Africa has been affected directly, and indirectly by the attacks which have created gaps
among the diverse cultures. In this situation, one of the questions is to elaborate on is how xenophobia has had an effect in South Africa as a
global entity. The major problem is the large number of foreigners without legal document, and the displaced individuals, who
are afraid to return to their original countries as they feel greener pastures are inevitable in South Africa no matter
what the circumstances may be.
Johwa (2008)mentioned that the “Failure to manage policies, especially on asylum and regarding refugees, frustrates local people and
discredits all migration in the eyes of ordinary people,”
Initiating that the department of home affairs is unable to tighten border control therefore more violent attacks may presume.
Hence it has an influence in the way south africans perceive foreigners in that their national identity is more valid than
human rights. By showing agression and resentment towards them, my argument is the way the violence spreads from
one place to another with no effective law enforcement to regulate the attacks.The editorial of (mail and guardian May 2008) pointed out that
”When people live in squalid conditions like that it takes only one incident [to spark violence]. The response of our law
enforcement was delayed” (pg 1)
He meant that as the economic hardships begin to be felt , blame has to be made in order to lift the frustration of where the next meal would
come from. My curiostiy is the response of the president, on how to tackle the situation at hand and if the department of home affairs is to issue a
policy that would deter the number of immigrants. Similarlty if the foreign business owners were to be vindicated out of their own property,
what economic factors would the xenophobic attacks influence and affect. The reason for research is that the violent attacks have been
escalating over a short period of time, and what alternative solutions to reduce them can be used apart from the ones that have been practiced.
An effect can be viewed by emic and etic individuals who have the privilege to witness these attacks and observe the influence towards the
country and also from the university students of south african nationality. Another approach is to examine pictures, articles and journals
obtained from the media.
Reference Page
Editor (May 2008) ANC on xenophobia: cops acted too slowly. Mail and guardian
retrieved October 03, 2009, from http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-05-22-anc-on-xenophobia-cops-acted-too-slowly
Editor (May 2008) Toll from Xenophobic attacks rises Mail and guardian retrieved
October 03, 2009, from http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-05-31-toll-from-xenophobic-attacks-rises
Johwa, W.(April 2008) South Africa: Xenophobia emerges as a ‘new apartheid’. African news update
retrieved on October 07,2009, from http://www.afrika.no/Detailed/16426.html
Mandisi M. (June 2008) Xenophobia still smolders in Cape Town Mail and guardian
retrieved October 03, 2009, from http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-06-19-xenophobia-still-smoulders-in-cape-townships
Qudsiya k. (March 2008) local leaders behind ‘xenophobic attacks’ Mail and guardian
retrieved October 03, 2009, from http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-03-11-local-leaders-behind-xenophobic-attacks
UNCHR (2001), International Labor Organization, and International Organization for
Immigration. International migration, Racism, Discrimination and xenophobia.
Geneva, Switzerland.
