South Africa: Xenophobia

By Gabriella Aka on May 10, 2015

Who would have thought that the very nation who turned to several other African countries during the many years of oppression and Apartheid would rise against immigrants in their own country?

This is not to say that all the people in South Africa are in support of the recent xenophobic attacks against migrants living in Durban, South Africa and other parts of the country. However, to think that such violence can be demonstrated by a people with such a history is unimaginable.

Yet recently, some South Africans are claiming that “The kwerekwere are stealing our jobs,” “kwerekwere” referring to international immigrant foreigners. They have launched attacks against Zimbabwean, Mozambican, Malawians and immigrants from other neighboring countries.

Seven people have died, most recently Emmanuel Sithole, a Mozambican, whose final moments were captured in a series of photos taken by South African journalist James Oatway.

According to a CNN article by Brent Swails, “Local media alleged that the attacks were a consequence of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini reportedly saying at a recent gathering that foreigners ‘should pack their bags and go’ because they are taking jobs from citizens.”

The Zwelithini has since said this in response to the outburst of violence in the nation:  ”This war I am calling for today is to protect everyone of foreign origin in this country irrespective of which country they are from.”

Opinion:

First of all, to think that saying your jobs are being “stolen” by foreigners is reason enough to take people’s lives and cause such panic is absurd.

Plus, statistics compiled by The Migrating for Work Research Consortium (MiWORC), a South African organization that studies migration and its effects on Labour in the nation, have shown that the percentage of immigrants who have jobs is far less than the percentage of non-immigrant workers.

In Kathy Wilkinson’s analysis she states that MiWORC’s report “found that 82% of the working population aged between 15 and 64 were ‘non-migrants,’ 14% were ‘domestic migrants’ who had moved between provinces in the past five years and just 4% could be classed as ‘international migrants.’ With an official working population of 33,017,579 people, this means that around 1.2-million of them were international migrants.”

Not only is this completely insensitive and inhumane, but it is disappointing considering the legacy that the late Nelson Mandela left behind. Such behavior is disgraceful to his teachings of togetherness and solidarity among all people. I think the man South Africans nick-named “Madiba” out of respect would be turning in his grave to see that his people have disregarded all what he stood for and chosen to turn against each other.

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