A Case for Xenophobic Attacks in SA?


I am going to talk about racial hatred, but first I want to cast your minds back to my personal experience with South Africa. I was sponsored to visit the country for a training in 2007 by Reuters Foundation, and Sandton, I must admit was beautiful, but unusually quiet for a huge city like Johannesburg. That was my first impression. In 2008 when I visited SA for the second time, the little town of Grahamstown was to me the loveliest, but most cautious little town I had ever visited. It was a conducive environment for the purpose to which I embarked on the journey. I later found out the reason for the city's cautious appearance. I noted that whites lived in separate quarters from blacks. The most pertinent question is, what whiteman in his sane mind would want to mix with people who take no sympathy for their own? Should I think that segregation in SA is somewhat a good which operates to protect whites?  Are all immigrants in South Africa black? This is not to suggest anyone regardless of race should be a target because they live in a country other than theirs.

I absolutely concur with the managing director of IMF, Christine Lagarde that, "the clues of the future can often be read from the tea leaves of the past." It was same year, 2008 that xenophobic attacks were carried out which according to IRIN.org killed an estimated 42 immigrants, and today, at least five people have been killed and hundreds forced to flee their homes as per theguardian.com. Although I may fall short of the numbers and the extent to human and capital destruction caused following the 2015 xenophobic attacks, I, however, note that xenophobic attacks on immigrants are recurrent in SA as historically traced. When a behaviour is repetitive-it could be diagnosed as a disease. Could it be a mental problem? if it were whites killing blacks you'll rant un-end about it.

In my view, some black South Africans would do everything to remain on the pittens proffered by government to help sustain their lives rather than work. Immigrants have done nothing, but exposed the lazy attitudes of some black South Africans who would rather get to the stage of heightened vexation over the progress of another assumed not to be of their country. Some immigrants even with better off educational qualifications take to clean the streets, start petty businesses, hustle and make a decent living. These immigrants work tediously and pay taxes; taxes which are in turn used to provide some money for non-working South Africans. The repercussions are psychological trauma, but economic benefit for the immigrant who has got to survive thousands of miles away from the familiarity of home. And to wake up to this abhorrent news that people are lynched by black South Africans seems to me a reality I wished was a nightmare. Where have their brains gone? This thought pushes me to think about the crucial need of education for any civilised nation. From these xenophobic demonstrations, I would say, man without education remains but an true animal. There is the education of life, of experience, but clearly, this experience has failed to teach any lessons to some, particularly those who took to such outrageous acts. How did they forget too soon the neighbourliness shown to them in times they were in dire need? Everywhere, there are stories about immigrants going home propagated by politicians who have now worked out that their votes may come if only they have the nerves to touch on the subject of immigration. These politicians are not tackling the real issues affecting their countries, but are instead seen to promote messages which fuel antagonism for immigrants. Stopping immigration is easy-redefine the UN charter on the rights to move. Close down embassies in various countries and for goodness sakes, please stop the killing.

The global economy is changing and I understand that people grapple with so many things one of which is economic recession, but this should not be the case for a target-to-kill tactic. Some newspapers dare to suggest that there is a case for such huge grievance as if, it would be better if the immigrants did leave. Well, there is a real economic strain on countries every where in the world, but you haven't heard people in other civilised nations getting to such extreme monstrous attitudes to lynch South Africans in other parts of the world-even Russia. Shakespeare says, "On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures". The currents that are against us is our denial to think it, build it, test it, try it and complete it. Because no matter how many shops owned by immigrants that some black South Africans destroy, no matter how many immigrants they kill, their situations will NEVER change if they do not man up and work hard. Look for something to do that would reward them economically. If they don't find one as it is the case with many, create something and do your best.

I know some of you would question, who sent the immigrants? Oh behold, no one sent them, but I argue that because they moved from one country to another their lives should not be jeopardised. What happened to the Charter of Human Rights on the freedom of movement of which Article 13 states, "Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. •(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country." Who told you that I am originally from that village which I claim is my tribe of origin? My forefathers moved, they were explorers. If only we could trace our lineages, these attackers may come to the revelation that the same people they killed were their siblings.

Can we learn to love one another on the simple premise that it takes nothing? I now fully understand why Jesus Christ said, "the greatest commandment is to LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU." It is so hard in our contemporary society to love. The bad news is that we pave a way for our children, and at the most least, it is not to teach them how to target other humans and blame them for their failures. Teach them a trade, teach them something that would help improve their lives and not to destroy the lives of others on envious reasons.

South Africa should hold all those accountable for the atrocious attacks on immigrants and most importantly, make it a duty to use the media to teach some of its people at the very least-tolerance and most importantly, love. If not, I forecast that in 7 years from today, something even worse could reoccur.

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