Some 22 years after the inception of democracy south africa seems to be exploding on the issues of racism and xenophobia. This essay is set to discuss and explore the validity of xenophobia in south africa. According to a 2004 study published by the southern african migration project samp. Sep 17, 2020 johannesburg, september 17, 2020 xenophobic harassment and violence against african and asian foreigners living in south africa are routine and sometimes lethal, human rights watch said in a. In this context, tshitereke notes, people often create a frustrationscapegoat 1999. Drawing on online newspaper reports and academic sources, this paper rejects the afrophobia thesis and argues that other nonafrican migrants such as asians pakistanis. A solid body of research explains that a culture of violence prevails in south africa, where violence is seen as the legitimate and normal way of solving problems in the. The purpose of this study was to investigate the causes effects of xenophobia in south and africa. The role of south africas government in the xenophobic.
South africa launches plan to combat xenophobia and racism. Xenophobia in south africa and problems related to it. Burchard in midapril, a spate of xenophobic attacks broke out in south africa. The curiosity and courage to start this process of research and evaluation is. Next, it examines the role of the south african government in maintaining and perpetuating xenophobic sentiment in contravention of these rights. This overview report describes trends of xenophobic violence that occurred between 1994 and 2018 across south africa based on information recorded on xenowatch. The study also aimed at focussing on tracing whether there are any programmes in place to counter xenophobia. Alexandra alex is one of the most linguistically diverse townships in south africa as a result of being home to all south african ethnic groups and foreign nationals from the african continent and beyond. The essay will explain the concept of race and racism and xenophobia of and how it has affected south africa as a country, its citizens and other countries surrounding it. Its not just xenophobia the web site cannot be found. Xenophobia, violence, and statecraft in contemporary south africa. The governments repeated failures to bring levels of violent. Perhaps, the same can be said about south africa today. Jul 01, 2016 the 2015 xenophobic attacks are a fresh reminder of antiimmigrant sentiments in south africa.
Mar 25, 2019 south africa has launched its national action plan to combat xenophobia, racism, and discrimination, marking an important step towards addressing the widespread human rights abuses arising from. Documentation of south africa s contemporary structural and human crises follows, as these appear closely related to the xenophobic outbreaks. While making some references to other parts of the world, this chapter mainly attempts to look at the struggle of racism and xenophobia in south africa and then proceeds to. The causes of xenophobia attacks in south africa it was in the spirit of africa brotherhood that all the countries of africa supported their south african. Furthermore, the paper recommends some strategies that can be used to prevent south africans attacking foreign nationals. According to this view, the problem is that the state has not seriously. The fourth part narrows the discussion to specific case study analysis of xenophobic attacks on nigerians in south africa. Xenophobia in south africa and problems related to it loren b. Nov 01, 2019 south africa has a xenophobia p roblem. Understanding the causes and the nature of xenophobia in south africa. Since the 2008 xenophobic violence in the country, there has been a growing literature on xenophobia. March against xenophobia in south africa, johannesburg, 23 april 2015 xenophobia in south africa has been present in both the apartheid and postapartheid eras. This chapter attempts to deconstruct such a representation by suggesting that xenophobia is implicit to the technologies of nationbuilding and is part of south africa s culture of violence. This nap is a response to the call made by the durban conference and is meant principally to serve as the guiding document behind national efforts to eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
However, there is a myriad of causes, which contribute to the problem of service delivery protest witnessed in south africa today. The last section concludes the work and proffers relevant policy recommendations. The nature of south africas legal obligations to combat. As these incidents show, african foreigners in particular are blamed for south africa s persistent social and economic problems. South africa needs to acknowledge that issues of migration are not only a security issue, but a pressing developmental issue that. Despite a lack of directly comparable data, xenophobia in south africa is perceived to have significantly increased after the election of a black majority government in 1994. Many scholars and south african politicians characterize the widespread antiforeigner sentiment and violence in south africa as dislike against migrants and refugees of african origin which they named afrophobia. Hostility between the british and boers exacerbated by the second boer war led to rebellion by poor afrikaners who looted britishowned shops. The nature of south africa s legal obligations to combat xenophobia executive summary starting in march 2008, a wa ve of xenophobic violence swept across many parts of south africa.
In south africa, extreme xenophobia assumes many connected forms. Reframing xenophobia in south africa as colourblind. Mar 11, 2020 official programmes to combat xenophobia have been piecemeal. Norbert kersting in may 2008 a wave of xenophobic violence spread all over south africa. A country that was once a victim of brutality, slavery and hatred towards the black minority. Drawing on online newspaper reports and academic sources, this paper rejects the afrophobia thesis and argues that other nonafrican migrants such as asians pakistanis, indians, bangladeshis and chinese are also on the receiving end of xenophobia in postapartheid south africa.
Xenophobia in south africa causes, attacks and history. More than 60 people, mainly citizens from somalia, mozambique or zimbabwe, were killed by mob violence. Furthermore, it is witnessed that, although each violent protest. This may not have been the first time it had occurred, but it was the fiercest manifestation of xenophobia to date in south africa. Apr 30, 2015 south africa s history of xenophobia xenophobia, or fear of foreigners, is not a new phenomenon in south africa. The problem is not a scarcity of explanations, but an overabundance. Xenophobia, xenophobic attack, may 2008, south africa.
Historical overview of nigeria south africa relations. Pdf xenophobia in south africa and problems related to it loren. In most cases, he said, it was xenophobia disguised as crime not vice versa. Apr 07, 2019 the acms has set up the website which receives detailed reports of xenophobia related incidents, and while it can map crimes, spatial data on xenophobic violence is largely nonexistent. Violence, crime and xenophobia during south africa s transition by bronwyn harris violence and transition series, vol. Analysis of media reporting and xenophobia violence among. The jews in the post exilic period understood their religious, social and economic problems. This was achieved through the following objectives.
The findings of this article suggest that south africa is not as committed to rooting out xenophobia as it would have us believe. African journal of criminology and justice studies. Xenophobic violence against nonnationals in south africa. The causes of xenophobia attacks in south africa it was in the spirit of africa brotherhood that all the countries of africa supported their south. Anti xenophobia action south africa, said that government was failing to attribute the violence to xenophobia, but rather treated it as part of the crime problem. In south africa socioeconomic and political reasons are cited for the rejection of african immigrants by some south africans. The chapter will provide a brief history and critique of the ways in which xenophobia has been understood in south africa. A retrospective study of the effects of xenophobia on south. The curiosity and courage to start this process of research and evaluation is thankfully recognised. South africa judith hayem a a clersecnrs, universite lille 1 version of record first published. Making south africa a case study on the management of xenophobia, this study contextualises xenophobia as a deeply rooted and protracted sociolegal problem and argues that only deep understanding and researchbased pragmatic. Pdf the experience of xenophobia in south africa researchgate.
Violent xenophobia has become a regular feature of south african life. Xenophobic violence against nonnationals in south africa hrw. Open hearings on xenophobia and problems related to it hosted by the. International migration, racism, discrimination and xenophobia.
Xenophobic attacks in south africa, which started around mid may. Xenophobic violence in south africa made international. While not inherently conflictual, diversity often brings about social cohesion challenges e. South africans do not want it to be easier for foreign nationals to trade informally with south africa 59 percent opposed, to start small businesses in south africa 61 percent opposed or to obtain south african citizenship 68 percent opposed. Pdf xenophobia in south africa and problems related to it. This is how africans have come to be the worst victims of xenophobia in contemporary south africa. Finally, the article indicates necessary steps to rectify the underlying causes of xenophobia in south africa in hope of preventing future violence. Xenophobia in south africa and problems related to it, 2004. A retrospective study of the effects of xenophobia on. Mar 25, 2019 today, south africa launched its national action plan to combat xenophobia, racism, and discrimination, marking an important step towards addressing the widespread human rights abuses arising from. In that context the paper looks at the general perspective of xenophobia in south africa focusing on the main reasons why local citizens attack foreign nationals.
Xenophobia is seen as an intense or irrational dislike of people from the outside, or other countries. Xenophobic violence and national subjectivity in south africa, journal of southern african studies, 39. Pdf xenophobia in south africa and problems related to. Although not the most severe political violence in south africa s turbulent past, the 2008 attacks reflect an important moment in the countrys postapartheid, postauthoritarian existence. Bronwyn harris is a former project manager at the centre for the study of violence and. A retrospective study of the effects of xenophobia on south africa. Addressing social cohesion and xenophobia in south. Xenophobia in south africa manifests itself in a number of ways, ranging from derogatory namecalling to harassment and physical attacks. Pdf in may 2008, xenophobic violence erupted in south africa. The 2015 xenophobic attacks are a fresh reminder of antiimmigrant sentiments in south africa. A critical study of the phenomenon and pragmatic solutions for south africa in the postapartheid period, thousands of refugees, migrant workers and other categories of foreign nationals have been attacked, killed, displaced or deprived of their property in xenophobic attacks throughout south africa. Addressing social cohesion and xenophobia in south africa.
The proportion of south africa s total population that is foreign born increased from 2. By the standard dictionary definition, xenophobia is. Measures in place to address xenophobia are based on south african legislation that makes provision for immigrants and refugees, as well as victims of crime. The ultimate goal was to establish ways in which secondary schools can play a role in averting xenophobia in the country. Bronwyn harris is a former project manager at the centre for the study of violence and reconciliation. Understanding the causes and the nature of xenophobia in.
Revisiting the may 2008 xenophobic attacks in south africa by matunhu 98 against migrants and trafficked persons, 2001. South africas foreign and migration policies missteps. Revisiting the may 2008 xenophobic attacks in south africa by jephias matunhu midlands state university department of development studies zimbabwe abstract xenophobia is a latent or obtrusive dislike of foreigners. A national survey of the attitudes of the south african population towards foreign nationals in the country by the south african migration project in 2006 found xenophobia to be widespread. Revisiting the may 2008 xenophobic attacks in south africa. South africans do not want it to be easier for foreign nationals to trade informally with south africa 59 percent opposed, to start small businesses in.
Idas africa team focuses on issues related to political, economic, and social stability and security on the continent. Jul 15, 2017 xenophobic attacks is one of the many threats to the security of the world, and so, a desperate need by all to help get measures to put in place so as to help reduce or get rid of it completely. Violence against foreign nationals and other outsiders in contemporary. Under apartheid, a racebased oligarchy in which the white elites controlled virtually all economic resources and made most social and political decisions, the south african government strictly regulated the movement of. South africa currently follows the global best practice of nonencampment. According to neocosmos 2006, this is because xenophobia is a problem of postcoloniality, one which is associated with the politics of the dominant groups in the period following independence. The refugees act act of 1998, section 3 describes a refugee who is eligible for protection as a. National action plan to combat racism, racial discrimination.
Jul 05, 2010 several of the structural causes of xenophobia are laid out, following by context. This is to do with a feeling of superiority, but is also, perhaps. The jews in the post exilic period understood their religious, social and economic problems to be caused by others. After consulting with civil society groups, the government launched a fiveyear national action plan in 2019, but, according to human rights watch, it fails to address a key challenge fuelling the problem. The proposed amendments to south africa s refugees act of 1998 would run counter to global best practice. The study also reveals that while the media in south africa has little effect on xenophobia attitudes there. This desktop research provides responses to these questions. South africa s political transition to democracy has exposed the unequal distribution of resources and wealth in the country 1999. International literature on nationalism suggests that xenophobia is a negative consequence of nationbuilding. It is antisocial and destructive of property and life. The world conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in durban provided an unprecedented opportunity to take an open and honest look at the scourge of discrimination and intolerance against migrants and refugees and to make commitments to end this situation. What is xenophobia and how does it come about south african.
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