an essay about xenephobia in south africa
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Answer:
Xenophobia
South Africa is a highly Xenophobic society, which out of fear of foreigner, does not naturally
value human rights of non-nationals (Dodson,2002) cited in Xenophobia in South Africa and
problems related to it, 2005). Currently the media, social networks and the tabloids have
reported violent attacks on immigrants in South Africa. South Africans are firing back that
they want all immigrants to travel back to their country of origin. The backlash is targeted at
black non-South African by South Africans. A statement as made by both the civil society
and South African Human Rights Commission defines xenophobia in South Africa a deep
dislike of non-nationals by nationals of the recipient nation (South African Human Rights
Commission,1999). This definition however according to Harris (2001) is not enough in
South African context the definition is limited and misleading because xenophobia in South
Africa is not just an attitude: but a activity (…) it is violence that damages and harm the body
(Harris, 2002) cited in (Valji,2003). Resentment is growing against foreigners blamed for
taking governmental jobs. It can be argued whether xenophobia in the country was triggered
by hatred of foreigners or it was the failure of the government in supporting its people
escape poverty by providing resources and employment opportunities. According to Gumede
(2015):
South Africa is more unequal today more than in 1994. About 60 to 70% of the population
live in squalid conditions, hidden spaces. And a lot of the violence that is pouring now is
happening to migrants in those spaces on a daily basis. Source: Alja Zeera
Xenophobia in South Africa is not only in one area but it is widespread although the
government refuses to agree to its existence instead blame the media for exaggerating.
Initially South Africa is already itself one of the most violent countries in world in particular
with the popular city of Johannesburg. Since xenophobia is a violent act, its existence should
not be a surprise especially the xenophobia that took place in 2008. In 2008 the country
experienced mass xenophobia from South Africans to foreigners mainly those from countries
like Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Mozambique. The country’s experience of the 2008’s
xenophobia was not the first neither was it the last. For example in 1994, a group of South
Africans in the township of Alexandra participated in a violent campaign forcing
Zimbabweans and Malawian out of the township because they were responsible for the
majority sexual attacks in the area , increase of crime and unemployment, in 1996,
approximately one thousand South Africans inhabitants of an informal housing settlement
attempted to drive all foreigners out of the settlement, in 1998, six South African police were
filmed setting attack dogs to three Mozambicans migrants whilst hurling racist and
xenophobic invectives to them (Duncan,2012). In public memory of the 2008 xenophobia it
was the unpleasant and horrifying event of xenophobic violence that engulfed South
African’s landscape (Peberdy, 2009) cited in (Duncan, 2012). Sociologist Pillay (2008)
suggests that socio-economics inequalities between the poor and the rich tend to be root of
violence. Neocosmos (2008b) confirms that it is common occurrences the powerfull take
their frustration on the less powerless, for example, women, the elderly and children. The
suspected reason of xenophobia against foreigners was because South Africans accused
foreigners for causing the rising levels of crime, they steal their jobs, houses and women
(Human Right Watch, 2010). According to Matsopoulos et al (2008), not only adult men in
particular black men are more likely than other groups to be victims of violence but also
more likely to be perpetrators of violence (cf. Bulhan, 1985).