Discussion: South Africa's self-contradiction

  1. Posted on Tuesday 20 May 2008 - 13:32
    AfricaNews editor
    Olivier Nyirubugara, AfricaNews
    South Africa is turning into a xenophobic country, hunting down foreigners including unfortunate refugees from Zimbabwe. Tens of people where murdered. 'African countries should ban 2010 for this', says a reader. Have your say about this unpleasant situation.
    South Africa celebrates rugby world cup, photo: Elles van Gelder
    Until recently, South Africa was cited as the most prosperous country where social harmony was achieved after decades of a nameless racial discrimination. Many foreigners, not only Africans but also westerners chose to settle in that country, simply because it was among the most stable and tolerant  countries on the continent.

    There is no doubt that that image influenced the FIFA selection of that country as World Cup 2008 host.  AfricaNews.com would like to have your opinion and reflection on the following questions:

    • What are the short-term and long-term consequences of the current xenophobic wave?
    • How will this affect the World Cup, where foreigners are expected to come in huge numbers?
    • How will businesses survive now that they are faced not only with an unprecedented power crisis but also with xenophobia ?
    See previous discussions

Reactions

  1. Posted on Tuesday 20 May 2008 17:49
    Kabendera
    Image of Kabendera

    Erick Kabendera
    3 berichten
    Lid sinds May 2008
    Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    The first president of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere once said that the curse of segregation will always haunt human history; as soon as you oust foreigners, you are likely to turn against your neighbor and later your brother accusing them of not being part of you.
    Of course, I anticipated Xenophobic violence two years ago when I arrived in Johannesburg and the first question some people I met at the airport asked was if I had gone to steal their jobs like many people from different parts of Africa I had done.
    I reserved my comments!
    Many of us understand the yawning gap between the rich and poor amongst the majority black population since the end of apartheid era but attacking foreigners is very wrong especially in African settings where a foreigner is expected to be treated with hospitality.
    What I hear from many Tanzanians who live in South Africa is that they work hard including washing dishes, the job that many poor South Africans wouldn’t do, to make ends meet. Even if foreigners are taking their jobs, why can’t the government put a policy in place rather letting people kill each other?
    Many South Africans lived in Tanzania and many other African countries during the era of liberation. They had no jobs and money but still enjoyed their stay. Many of them left even babies, which are being taken care of by communities. None of the South African was killed or ousted by force. In fact, president Nyerere told Tanzanians not to feel celebrate their independence because some countries like South Africa had not attained independence.
    People had to go with hunger since the Tanzanian government was sending money and food to South Africa. So why hate foreigners if other countries received your freedom fighters with open arms? Or South Africans want to say they have forgotten your history? How many South Africans are working outside their country and nobody attacks them?
    It is a shame for such violence to upsurge at this time when Africa is hosting the world cup for the first time and Africa is celebrating South African achievements as Africa economic powerhouse. The violence might encourage protests like what was happening around the world during the Olympic Relay over Tibet.
    Do to others what you like others do to you.
  2. Posted on Tuesday 20 May 2008 18:21
    YINKA OLUGBADE
    Image of YINKA OLUGBADE

    Adeyinka Olugbade
    32 berichten
    Lid sinds October 2007
    Lagos

    Africans, across the length and breath of our great continent are generally known to be very liberal and welcoming folks. Perhaps, the only resemblance to this recent unfriendly treatment by the South Africans to their kinds and strangers can be said to have occurred back in time whenever we felt cheated or reduce to an animal by other human, and that's talking about era of discrimination and marginalization of all kinds by our colonial overlords. Other traces have been thought to have been managed well.

    However, this recent outburst is quite strange and alien to the cultural ethics of the Africans. I really wish there is a way for one to find out what's the origin of this growing xenophobic reactions from the South Africans. I can't seemed to decipher why at this point in time, an evil of this magnitude should creep-up amidst the expectations and hope to host the rest of the world in the game of soccer -World Cup 2008 or even lead the rest of the continent in pressing for larger power sharing equation.

    My submission is an analysis of the causal factors:

    Could this be a clear case of sibling rivalry- in which siblings fight over household provision; waiting on cue till a senior graduates to step in the line for parents to grant their owe dues, and when they delay such a child become agitated – often recalling attention to promises made, sighting years and times of having to bear and all that. This can escalate to opting out, seeking refuge and succor elsewhere, and developing a hatred for the older sibling i.e. perceived them as ‘birds of same feather’. A further degree of this escalation could pitch him/her up in either a verbal or physical attack. Put in context, the bitterness of this 'decades of a nameless racial discrimination' could have been silenced to allow for peace in a black-led South Africa government – a sort of hope, suspended in the personage and performance of Mandela and Mbeki led government. Howbeit, reading their own meanings into their performances of their governance to manage the many growing issues could have come to whatever conclusion- probably has concluded that these governments failed to meet their aspiration - like the inability of the government to work out the Aliens Control Act to their advantage. This can be an outcome of the bottled-up agitation and is now been re-visited.

    Of course, with a new democratic government comes the political reform to deliver democratic dividends, a renewed interest by global tourists desiring to explore the realities of the place they have been hearing and reading about, as well as an influx of migrants from the surrounding nations hoping to find a home under the new government. These will exert some form of pressure on resources and reduce the capacity of that government to meet whatever expecting there are. It would covet a diversion of attention into reconstruction – give South Africa a new face-lift in other for it to meet these incoming demands. Resources that could have been devoted to caring for the average citizen would go into building Stadium, into defense –when no war is confronting the nation, into unnecessary laundry of national image – when nothing whatsoever is wrong with who and what South Africa is, into hosting bilateral conferences in the hope of fostering greater participation of the nation in global politics, and to think this list is endless. This perception of imagery no doubt would differ. For the youths on the street, some of who were active soldier in the emancipation of that nation, and others whose dearest one became martyr – laying down their blood, the most precious priceless gift of all, for whatever glory now been enjoyed by the government and people of South Africa, any shortcoming in the entire process of governance could spell a rash of hopelessness, forcing then to seek justice in what the political thinkers called the ‘tyranny of the minority’. Thus, we have a situation where restless youth animated only by their altruistic self are now descended on those immigrants perceived to be competing with their ration of the cake.

    My third analysis is completely weird. Could this xenophobic reaction be a grand conspiracy to prevent South Africa from hosting the 2008 World Cup? I don’t know. The answer is out there. But I am just wondering why a people so united by many years of class struggle and segregation are now united to fight their brothers and sisters, united to destroy the produce of what years of tears, sweat and blood had earn not only for their nation but for Africans wherever they are found on earth. Then, it means this conspiracy is not aim at the World Cup 2008. My guess is an unfounded rumor - that all is not well politically and economically. That the government has been trying so hard to cover up the truth and that this reaction is a lesson borrowed from the Tibetan’s revolting (who capitalizing on the Chinese Hosting of the Olympic pressed to secure their places in China) the South Africans are now riding on the waves of the approaching 2008 tournament to get rid of this burden.

    Media images are already blowing this out of proportion, name-tagging it with different analysis and it is destroying whatever beautiful peaceful picture there are of South Africa. And is this a good sign, well, if it will pacify this erratic outburst. This is xenophobic reaction is completely uncalled for. It defeats every conceivable justification because the rights of others were brazenly trampled down. This ha also sent a rash wave of insecurity in the region, as such that when coupled with the yet to be settle East African crisis, do not spell any good omen. South Africa would not be the great economy it is thought to be if it was not for the influence of the immigrants. This is very pathetic.
    eternal vigilance is the code of honour
  3. Posted on Wednesday 21 May 2008 07:10
    Sanday
    Image of Sanday

    Sanday Chongo Kabange
    561 berichten
    Lid sinds September 2007
    Lusaka, Zambia

    Whats happening in South Africa is not only bad for Africa's image but its chances of hosting of international events like the 2010 World Cup.
    Lets help stop this Black on Black Violence and Hatred.
  4. Posted on Wednesday 21 May 2008 08:19
    Rod Baker
    Image of Rod Baker

    Rod Baker
    1 berichten
    Lid sinds March 2008
    South Africa

    Greetings,
    As much as South Africa is a rich country, and the government has succeeded in many areas, it has failed dismally in others. One failure is in uplifting the living standards for the vast majority of the people, and employment opportunities. While certain ANC-aligned individuals have become obscenely rich, the masses have largely remained poor. Many, in fact, reckon they were better off under apartheid. Our unemployment rate is very high, the government does not lead by example when it comes to fighting crime (they now want to let MPs who defrauded parliament off the hook) and Mbeki has done virtually nothing to pressure Mugabe.

    The result of the latter inaction is a large influx of foreigners, mostly Zimbabweans, and when you combine with their willingness to work, with our own unemployment, and a general perception (thanks to a perceived soft approach to combating crime) that if you do crime, you will get away with it, and then you have a recipe for disaster... People without jobs see outsiders working and therefore "stealing" their jobs, and a government soft on crime.

    So the feeling is, drive the foreigners out and if we hurt or kill them, no matter, we won't be punished. And we’ll have a job at the end of it.

    Having said that, there is also a criminal element that sees this as an opportunity to lay their hands on other people’s goods, so looting of shops and homes has been common.

    What is happening is terrible, and the government needs to act – but it took Mbeki FOUR DAYS to issue a public statement on the crisis. That is pathetic.

    The government must lead by example and take proper steps to quell violence and everyone must stop trying to blame other people and history for what is happening. The people creating the mayhem NOW are to blame, and they must be stopped NOW.

    And then we must make sure it never happens again.

    This has been a public relations disaster for South Africa. Already the German government has issued a travel advisory to its citizens regarding travelling to SA, and I am sure other governments will follow suit. That means fewer tourists and fans in 2010, and that means less money going into township tours and what-have-you.

    It is going to take a massive effort to convince tourists and fans that SA is safe, and if we cannot do that, we will see a massive loss to the economy.
  5. Posted on Wednesday 21 May 2008 08:55
    Evans Wafula
    Image of Evans Wafula

    Evans Wafula
    158 berichten
    Lid sinds July 2007

    The events in South Africa are a direct fail by President Thabo Mbeki to resolve the bigger problem that threatens the region-the crisis in Zimbabwe. His ‘silent diplomacy’ towards the events in Zimbabwe are obviously to blame for the chaos being witnessed in the streets of Johannesburg.

    Mbeki has openly supported the dubious and anti-constitutional military power played by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his goons.

    In a whirlwind of most likely politically inspired gang violence, much resembling the aparthied era and reminiscent of the militias in Zimbabwe, immigrants from other African countries now find themselves targeted, hunted down, beaten up and even killed in growing numbers.

    The perpetrators show all signs of being organized and taking hints from above‚ to achieve a political agenda through violent means. Such behavior was previously only known from repressive dictatorial regimes in Africa and the resurgence of such tactics in South Africa is ringing the alarm bells on the continent and around the globe.

    Several Africans residing in South Africa and visiting there are now also reported to have been caught up in these events, losing property.

    What shocks many people is the fact that the very Africans who they are targeting t offered them homes, schools, work, and even love when they struggled for liberation and self freedom.

    Its the same Africans who allowed the ANC to form bases in Tanzania, Uganda and in other countries.

    The action is a betrayal and a shame of the African people. The South African government should stand up and protect this foreigners from this senseless hollocust being perpetrated by some insensitive South Africans.

    Innocent Africans in South Africa have ended up in hospitals. What this has triggered in other countries is that a pattern of revange is likely to be witnessed. In Uganda, Media reports in Uganda expressed concern for their fellow Ugandans in South Africa, in particular, those in Johannesburg, and people have been quoted to be planing to revange. Similar sentiments are evident in Nigeria and in Cameroon. However, diplomatic sources have down played the anger in almost capitals across Africa.

    Its a tragic situation for Africa and the rest of the civilized world which had viewed South Africa as an emerging African democratic success story.

    The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (International Federation of Association Football) or FIFA, too, as will other global sports bodies, intent of handing major championships to South Africa, is showing signs of concern bordering a minor panic, ahead of the 2010 Football World Cup.

    It would be logical for FIFA to reconsider its decision to host the 2010 World Cup in South Africa given it current reputation. Infact, African countries should not field teams to the 2010 World Cup if it being held in South Africa. How will garantee them of their own safety in a countries where black people have been haunted down like rats and killed in cold blood.

    The current crime rate in South Africa has targeted tourists casting doubts over the South African governments ability to protect.

    In this regard the current events are a let down to the dreams and aspirations of Nelson Mandel and the very principles that South Africans and Africa as continent fought for during the struggle for independence.
  6. Posted on Wednesday 21 May 2008 14:49
    Ayo
    Image of Ayo

    Ayo Ajayi
    38 berichten
    Lid sinds August 2007
    Lagos, Nigeria

    It's very unfortunate that South Africans can be hostile to their African brothers and non Africans alike on flimsy excuse that they have taking over their scarce jobs and housing. What could have been the population of foreigners compare to citizens.

    It is un-civilized and share wickedness to result to killing of innocent people who are doing (dish washing etc) what the citizens themselves will not do.

    By the virtue of its position in Africa, South Africans by this action, have just dashed the hope of Africans and the cofidence of the Western world that "anything good can stll come out of Africa" This shows that Africa generally is not safe for anything- sports (World Cup 2010), business, tourism, name it.

    One can only hope that there would not be reprisals in other African countries.
    Ayo modified this message on 21-05-2008 14:55 with 0%: to correct mistakes
  7. Posted on Wednesday 21 May 2008 16:54
    Munene Kilongi
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    Munene Kilongi
    6 berichten
    Lid sinds August 2007
    Nairobi

    The recent attacks on foreign migrants in South Africa did not come as a surprise to me.

    Two years back they were attacking Somalis, looting and burning their shops, and after the mayhem cooled down, I never heard that their government addressed the root of the problem.

    As a Kenyan will tell you, Somalis are one of the most enterprising communities in Africa.

    They land in Nairobi as refugees from their war-torn country virtually penniless but they pick up so fast that a year down the line they are doing so well in business that some even employ locals.

    Without a doubt, there’ll be equal doses of envy and jealousy from Kenyans, but it has never degenerated to xenophobia.

    But the South African problem is different. It’s a far cry from the simple story of African brotherhood …, about helping our ANC brothers during the apartheid years … type of thinking.

    I think South Africans have an idea about African brotherhood and the African nations that chipped in during their struggle.

    The problem is much deeper and has been festering for far too long, maybe this time the government will take notice and act.

    To understand how big the problem is in SA, you have to first acknowledge that the country is the continent's economic powerhouse, it also has a high unemployment rate - estimated at 40 percent - and it has a chronic lack of housing and reliable public services.

    Most South African communities were isolated from each other in the days of Botha and company. The country was also isolated from other African countries and cultures. Only a handful of the hundreds of thousands of migrants crossing the country's borders to work in the diamond and gold mines were integrated into the wider society.

    The apartheid system and forced separation of people based on race that supposedly ended 14 years ago did not. I hear it’s still alive but subtle.

    Fourteen years after ‘Independence’ from the apartheid regime, a majority of citizens are still living on the margins of the economy. The black empowerment policies of Thabo Mbeki have only benefited a few people, making some dollar billionaires at the expense of ordinary folk.


    Poor African refugees in their millions are drawn to the country and often find themselves with no source of income in the city centres, squatter camps and crime-ridden, low-income areas.


    Here they come to compete with thousands of locals for scarce jobs.

    And thus for some years, the xenophobic storm has been brewing in the minds of the down trodden lot in SA.

    The unfortunate killing of 24 immigrants was shocking.

    From what I read, there are most likely over 7 million illegal immigrants and there is also an ongoing a rise in rural to urban migration by locals to find employment in cities and towns.

    I also understand, competition for jobs is high, and there is a fear of strangers and, in some cases, plain ignorance is believed to be the cause of violent incidents against refugees.

    And so to my point, this people did not just wake up in the morning and turned on their neighbors with machetes and axes and guns.

    This is a cry of desperation, a shout to be heard above the din, it’s the only way for the voiceless to be heard. This people who are killing might be shouting to be heard on either a political, economic or social problem.

    We saw it here in Kenya, it’s the poor who were killing each other, and the problem was not the Kikuyu or the Luo, but President Kibaki, who many observers believe stole the December elections.

    The more than 1,000 deaths turned out to be that a majority of Kenyans could not imagine enduring five more years of a Kibaki government that was largely indifferent to their plight.

    And their problem was lack of job opportunities, inequity in distribution of wealth, lack of land tenure, tribalism, historical injustice … et al.

    It made me realize, every time a social problem is swept under the carpet by government, people will eventually `scream` and it will resonate ton others enduring the same. I see the killings spreading in SA … for awhile.

    Kenyans thought they were a cut above other African countries, they were too advanced, more civilized, highly educated to bend to such low depths. Look what happened.

    And I know, millions of South Africans are equally shocked and surprised.

    Two years back the SA government said they will look into the issue of xenophobia after the attacks on Somalis, but it seems nothing was done after calm returned.

    In the short-term the SA government has to cool down the temperatures and bring peace and protection to the migrants. The government has to listen to its people and get to the root of the problem and thoroughly address it or it will always recur.

    Sometimes when people do not have a way to express their political, economic or social problems, they turn on the most vulnerable members of the society to vent the anger, and in this way, their problem gets attention.

    Inspite of allegations that the violence was either political or was planned, their still remains a problem.

    The recent attacks should not affect the 2010 World Cup even one bit. These are two totally different things: the xenophobia is migrants taking up local’s jobs; the World Cup is fans pouring money into local’s businesses.

    It’s the difference between fairly well-off football fans and most probably dirt-poor fellow African refugees.

    But in terms of international image the violence is making a big dent to a people who are going to host an event that HOSPITALITY is the magic word. It’s eating into the world’s goodwill.

    But it has not shaken my confidence in Africa, only the pettiness of African governments on what is really important – the people.

    South African business on the other hand will suffer more if the immigrants are deported from their country. The huge refugee influx is a boost to their economy because one way or the other people must eat, and live, and either way, they will have to buy a made-in-south Africa product.

    And by the way, who will take care of the menial jobs locals can’t do.

    The shedding of the power load in SA is also going to hurt businesses big time, I think it affects everyone inside South Africa. Even the refugee will want to charge their phone.
  8. Posted on Wednesday 21 May 2008 17:48
    Mugadza
    Image of Mugadza

    Munyaradzi Mugadza
    122 berichten
    Lid sinds February 2008
    Harare, Zimbabwe

    Xenophobic attacks: SA responds to Zimbabwean migration to South Africa


    The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union need to put necessary measures stop the violence that has characterized the region.

    South Africa has erupted into xenophobic attacks against foreign citizens leaving at least 22 people dead and up to 10,000 people seeking refuge in shelters.

    The hatred against foreigners have started boiling at a time when Zimbabwe is preparing for a presidential run off after all the presidential candidates failed to surpass the required 50 plus one vote as stated by the Electoral Act.

    More than twelve Zimbabweans have been killed as a result of the xenophobic attacks on foreigners. A third of the Zimbabwean population left the country in droves following the economic and political recession gripping the country.

    The attacks may be a directive to the Zimbabwean nationals that they should go home and vote against President Mugabe and start rebuilding the country which is on its knees for more than eighty years. Foreigners have been stampeding in South Africa because goods and services are very cheap.

    The Congress of South African Trade Union (COSATU) and other unions have held mass protests against lack of democracy in Zimbabwe and other African countries and this may be a step to force all Zimbabweans in South Africa to go home and vote in the presidential run off penciled for June 27.


    The violence, which started in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg last week,
    spread to informal settlements on the perimeter of Johannesburg over the
    weekend, including Zamimpilo in Riverlea, Diepsloot and Kya Sands to the
    west of Johannesburg, and Ramaphosa and Makause in the east, as well as to
    Tembisa and Tokoza.

    Some South African residents said what has sparked the xenophobic attacks is jealousy of the South Africans because foreigners are actively doing something tangible out of their sweat. Media reports established that the South African business community was cashing on the Zimbabwean crisis because Zimbabweans were flocking the Southern African country to buy grocery and other valuable goods that are not readily available on the formal market.

    Foreigners especially Zimbabweans valuable goods cash as compared to South Africans who buy on credit. However, their business is likely to be affected because many Zimbabweans this week were reluctant to travel to S.A amid fears of the growing attacks on foreigners.

    According to The Sunday Times of South Africa, the xenophobic attacks was “was the conclusion reached by the Forced Migration Studies Programme at Wits at its recent report” Responding to Zimbabwean Migration to South Africa

    The report contend that “the scale of the impact is just as much the result of the lack of response to the migration flow as to the migration itself”

    The attacks however aims to root out all unprofessional and less important people in South Africa amid reports that foreigners from the department of education were Zimbabwean teachers of moths and science were spared from the chop and allowed to continue with their important jobs.
  9. Posted on Wednesday 21 May 2008 22:05
    Setumo
    Image of Setumo

    Setumo Stone
    29 berichten
    Lid sinds April 2008
    South Africa

    I will have to echo Munene's view around this matter. Africa must rise beyond simplistic analysis of this situation and realise it for what it is: "A cry for help from ordinary South Africans who can no longer endure waking up to hopelessness".

    It is time that the myth of a "prosperous" SA be dispelled. South Africans are SUFFERING and they have a unacceptable unemployment rate. The growth in economy has only benefited a few (including being Mbeki's "bragging line"), who in turn believe that their overnight wealth is a result of their "wisdom", forgetting that we are all where we are because of a cruel past.

    The supposedly self-made empowered blacks never miss a chance to flaunt their new found accumulations in the face of the poor, who in turn rely on them for service delivery because most of these individuals happen to be government employees. An impression is created that if you struggle, then you are stupid. That is why we see a rise in crime because SA has become such an "individuality" driven country, where social upliftment is secondary to smoking cigars and sipping expansive wine in upmarket restaurants. We cannot expect the masses to be blind to these events.

    In summary, the political consciousness of SA died with with Mbeki's newly created BEE's (politicians-cum-overnight millionaires). This is why the masses no longer give a damn about political history (read: the contribution of fellow Africans during apartheid) but SURVIVAL.

    The masses on the ground are being told that change will not happen overnight, but some politicians are ministers (government officials) TODAY, and shareholders of millions of rands in big corporates TOMORROW (e.g. Penuell Maduna, Popo Molefe, Buleleani Ngcuka etc.)

    At this rate, one will have to start considering the conspiracy that BEE was the brainchild of white corporates, whose intentions was to corrupt the prominent political leaders with money so they can abandon socio-economic liberation, thus SA continues to become a country where cheap labor remains the rule of the day. That is however a topic for another day.

    In conclusion, I again plead with fellow Africans not to fall in the trap of simplistically analysing this sad incident and thus stir reverse hatred, because that particular course will take all of us nowhere. Let us ALL put pressure on the South African government to take accountability of the situation.

    I never thought I would say this but the ascension of Mbeki as the president of SA was a GRAVE mistake we will all live to regret in many years to come.
    Setumo modified this message on 21-05-2008 22:18 with 14%
  10. Posted on Wednesday 21 May 2008 22:40
    Setumo
    Image of Setumo

    Setumo Stone
    29 berichten
    Lid sinds April 2008
    South Africa

    I recommend that you read the following article by Sandile Memela:

    Xenophobia: coveting another’s possessions

    The deep rumbles of discontent have, sadly, exploded into an orgy of violence, death and destruction that threatens the center that holds South African society together.

    It is, of course, a very complex issue but it can be simplified, if you like.

    One of the fundamental reasons for this explosion of anti–African xenophobia is man’s selfishness and greed. It shows the dark side of man’s soul where he desires what his neighbour has, especially material things that require a job and money.

    All the people who live in South Africa, black and white, young and old, rich and poor are not entirely innocent for what is happening. The first thing that needs to be understood for what is happening here is that expresses man’s desire and worship for material things. The reason that Africans have turned against themselves is not only because of self-hate but because they hanker after tangible things like houses, TV sets, micro-waves, DVD players, stereos, fridges, duvets, carpets, kitchen utensils and … The list is endless.

    But, primarily, it’s about material things.

    This love, desire and worship for material things is what has unleashed the animal side of man. All that the perpetrators of the violence want is what their neighbours have: things that money can buy. If freedom and equality was not equated to money, money and more money we would not have witnessed this orgy of violence which displays for the whole world to see the African man’s hatred for fellow Africans who have made it good.

    The so-called “makwerekwere” are seen as a problem because they have come here with nothing but they have accumulated some material goods. If they lived in sub-human conditions like pigs, where they did not afford relatively decent clothes, scrounged odd jobs for a living, sold their labour for peanuts, accumulated material and had meagre wages in their pockets, nobody would be bothered about them.

    They would just be another group of invisible Africans who have nothing and are nothing. Their biggest problem is that they have been able to lift themselves by their boot strings. Increasingly, indigenous Africans have realised that in a culture where freedom and success is equated to material achievement, they are being outpaced by what they consider to be ‘foreigners’ — people who come from outside. This has, suddenly, galvanized them to realize that after almost 20 years, freedom and democracy has not brought them anything.

    They have now decided to harm anybody who has what they do not have: material things. There is no need for society to crack its head on the cause of this violence. If our society had evolved in a way that would have provided some measure of material success for everybody, especially the dispossessed without material, things would have been different today.

    The biggest problem is that far too few people have enjoyed material success while the majority wallow in poverty, squalor, dirt and hopelessness. Those who have nothing are not only envious of those who have too much. They, also, becoming impatient, angry, resentful, bitter and disillusioned. They have always been lurking at the corner, watching, listening and waiting for their turn to come. Otherwise there would be no chaos in society today.

    Of course, we have to maintain the rule of law. The government should unleash the force of the police and the army and the magistrates and the judges must get the ‘have nots&#8217
  11. Posted on Wednesday 21 May 2008 22:46
    Setumo
    Image of Setumo

    Setumo Stone
    29 berichten
    Lid sinds April 2008
    South Africa

    Continued...

    Of course, we have to maintain the rule of law. The government should unleash the force of the police and the army and the magistrates and the judges must get the ‘have nots’ to learn to behave like normal, obedient and conforming beings.
    This will, hopefully, restore peace, stability and law and order but it is NOT a permanent solution.
    The problem becomes more complex because we live in one of the most unequal societies in the world. What makes it worse is the worsening gap between the rich and poor.

    Unfortunately, putting bodies into prison does not control or eradicate man’s envy for what other men have. The majority of ordinary and simple folks are not enjoying the benefits of one of the most successful economies in the Dark Continent. This is one of the world’s mineral-richest countries. Those who do not have material things, like everybody else, want to enjoy a measure of success and achievement that gives them human worth: houses with microwaves, TVs, fridges, stereos with DVD players, duvets and a host of other things that deliver a better quality of life. These are the new yardsticks to measure the success of a man.

    Let us not forget that over the last 15 years we have established a new culture which dictates that freedom is enjoying a better quality of life which comprises of material things. So the aspirations and dreams of what is supposedly the ‘South African Dream’ have come full circle.

    We all know why there is crime and understand the reason people get killed. It is simply because some poor people who have no jobs want to buy into the culture of money, money and more money to get things that it can buy. They do not necessarily want to be better human beings. They just want what everybody who is free, equal and enjoying a better quality of life has. And that is material things.

    It may sound shocking but one can say that people in this country are killing each other for cars, fashion, TVs and other material things. If the wealth of one of the richest countries in the world does not trickle down to the poor and marginalized, there will be no permanent solution to this orgy of violence.

    The only way to solve this society’s problems is to address the selfishness and greed of man. As the poor go to jail for killing fellow Africans for their clothes and TVs, those who have more than enough need to ask themselves: is it not our own greed that is turning fellow human beings into murderers, rapists and thieves? After all, what do these people want if not a better quality of life that comprises of material things?

    If a society has too many people who do not have and too few who have everything you cannot stop mayhem. Much as Nelson Mandela wants us to “avoid descent into divisive destruction” it may be unavoidable in a society where nobody has enough to fulfil their needs and everybody desires unending material accumulation.

    If we leave politics aside, this is just plain greed and selfishness. It is the dark side of the human soul.

    http://www.thoughtleader....her-material-possessions/
  12. Posted on Thursday 22 May 2008 09:58
    YINKA OLUGBADE
    Image of YINKA OLUGBADE

    Adeyinka Olugbade
    32 berichten
    Lid sinds October 2007
    Lagos

    Examining the fate of Nigerians in the recent South Africa Xenophobic reaction.

    The gory picture in the media about the recent South Africa Xenophobic reaction reveals a society gone out of order. The kind of treatment meted out to fellow Africans and especially Nigerians stand condemned in the light of any justification by these erratic youths.

    With the recent escalation, this reaction has now gone out of hand. Governments of nation whose citizens were mobbed and killed must rise in unison to curtail this menace. The manner of it especially against the Nigerians is completely unacceptable. Nigerian government need to rise to the occasion and take action. We must condemn it in its entirety and seek for fairer treatment. If need be, our government must insist and stand her ground by asking for a redefinition of the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

    Nigeria government has been very slow at responding to most issue affecting Nigerians abroad. There are several cases that our people had expected a rather definitive approach but were handled with disdain. Why does everybody have to take from Nigeria and we are not just reaching out to take advantage of getting something back? How unfortunate that as yet with the escalation of injuries and deaths inflicted on Nigerians by these outraged xenophobic youths, not a single government official either home or abroad is yet to make a statement regarding the situation? How can we condone such madness meted out to our people when America will declare war to be there for one citizen of the United States of America?

    Is it not a historical irony that Nigerians should be served with the unjust treatment as the colonial or apartheid-led whites gave some years ago? And even in that struggle against oppression, the price paid by the government and people of Nigeria is quite enormous. Our people fought, matched, protested, died and celebrated with songs and supports of diverse providence the course of South Africans especially towards their emancipation from the shackles of apartheid. Various delegations on their behalf foresaw our government using the hard-earn resources of the Nigerians to venture and join voices in the several talks leading to their freedom. This twist is certainly to our disadvantage and shame.

    Lest we have forgotten, Nigerians economy now harbors the best of their businesses. For goodness sake, the lists of Nigerian-based multinational companies wholly owed or controlled by South Africa people or government is far greater than the hundreds of Nigeria migrants residing in that country. Nigerians are not destroying any of MTN’s installation even when their services are poor and genuine reasons to rampage are evident. As far back as 2003, media reports across the globe had begun to feature writings about the invasion of the South Africans into the Nigerian economy. Today, this influx is far greater than imagined. In the Lagos (the business capital of Nigeria) alone, we have Shoprite, MTEL, Woolworth, Chicken Republic, Bassellos, Steers, St Elmos, and DSTV/Multichoice. Even the media is not spared in this conquest. Bussinessday, a Nigerian business reporting newspaper also have Johnnic Communications – a South African media giant for her partner. Even the largest tourism project in the Nigeria, the Tinapa project, is a joint venture between Standard Bank, Broll, and Southern Sun - all South African firms. Entech, a South African engineering firm is also handling the redevelopment of Lagos's Bar Beach and Victoria Island waterfront at a whooping contract sum of $3 billion. Another South African firm, Group Five, is said to be building a power station in the Niger River delta. The connection between Nigerian advertising and entertainment industries with professionals from South Africa is also a deeply rooted romance.

    This information is source from the media in whom the Nigerian masses depends for information and education from time to time. So, Nigerians are quite aware of what is going on. This supposed take-over of our economy by the South Africans was never at any time misinterpreted. Our perception and relationship with these businesses have with utmost cordiality and civility – as, fellow Africans. These companies have created thousands of jobs and are contributing to our economy. Properly investigated, Nigerians working with these organizations or their affiliate establishments would have one or two things to say about fair or unfair treatments. And certainly, there could be individuals outside this frame who’ll have come up with such insane idea about the activities of foreign companies in Nigeria as envisioned and implemented by these out-of-control xenophobic South Africans.

    The greatest impetuous to this assault by the South Africans on was unfortunately given by the Nigerians government. How? The slow pace of reacting on matters of this importance is exasperating, the deliberate business waivers given to these companies when new tax laws are requiring of our small-scale business such outrageous and business suffocating payments, as well as the patronage enjoyed by South African immigrants in Nigeria which are often denied our citizens all contribute to sell Nigerians too cheap. In this interaction, Nigerians must reject the terms of this exchange as it is no longer favorable. With all the calculated almost becoming a genocidal treatment on our immigrants, it is high time to defend the rights of the Nigerians abroad.

    Any failure to heed this warning will be met with equal treatment to the citizens and establishment owed by these countries. Consequently, the South African government must quickly call to order this rascals glamorizing genocide as a trivia self-defense. Compensation to those hospitalized and family of deceased must be given. There is no need to set up any enquiry panel as this will prolong the granting of compensation and justice. Howbeit, culprits of this madness should be made to face appropriate penalty. This intervention deserves high priority, putting a permanent end to the series of xenophobic reactions coming from this region.    Xenophobia: Nigerians vs. South Africa
    eternal vigilance is the code of honour
  13. Posted on Thursday 22 May 2008 10:02
    Stuart Rothgiesser
    Image of Stuart Rothgiesser

    Stuart Rothgiesser
    1 berichten
    Lid sinds March 2008
    South Africa

    Thank you for highlighting this issue; it is important to make as much noise as possible.

    I do, however, think that there is room and space to ask questions more to do with reasons behind the xenophobia and government’s role in such.

    Your questions are quite business-oriented; I think that economics should take a backstand to questions such as:

    1. What are the causes of such extreme levels of xenophobia to black Africans, African Asians and foreign Asians (and not Westerners) among black South Africans?

    2. Why has the government allowed this to fester for so long and why has it not come down hard on the parties invlolved? (We have seen xenophobic attacks in the Western Cape for the past two years, for example.)

    3. Why, even in answer to question one, do (some) black South Africans have such blatant disregard to democratic values of right to life, right to property, right to security, right to movement, women’s rights, etc.

    4. And, finally, why do black South Africans not understand the difference between ethnicity and nationality? Even the media keeps reporting about “a South African who was a former Zambian” as if that makes them less of a South African.

    Best

    Stuart
  14. Posted on Thursday 22 May 2008 12:53
    Benkam
    Image of Benkam

    Elisabeth Benkam
    51 berichten
    Lid sinds March 2008
    Yaounde, Cameroon

    xenophobia in South Africa is a shame for Africa

    These movements of violence and reprisals of the Black South Africans against their black brothers of Africa translate the inhospitality of Africa to herself.

    This situation would have taken place in Europe where we would have understood, but in Africa, it is a shame for our continent.
  15. Posted on Friday 23 May 2008 09:48
    Walter
    Image of Walter

    Walter Wilson Nana
    563 berichten
    Lid sinds October 2007
    buea

    These are some groups of vandals, suggestively, still being hunted by the stories of APARTHEID, their parents, (those still living) have told them, about their relations with foreigners. With the volatile situation in Zimbabwe, it's just obvious that some of the neighbouring countries will feel the negative impact of that. South Africa is just one of them.

    Now, the destitute community in South Africa, feel very strongly that even their worsening situtaion is been threatened with the influx of more than 3 million who have to survive at all means. Therefore our good friends in the shacks and villages of SA are forced to compete with the desperate people from ZIM, especially. Even the jobs for little pay from employers that the people from the slums of SA would have asked for a little more money to be added for them are taken by the guyz from ZIM.

    I SEE it as a fight amonsgt unskilled workers for menial jobs, though some criminals have exploited the situation to loot shops, especially those of foreigners(mostly) in central Jo'burg and now it's spreading to Durban.

    With the World Cup closing in, some South Africans feel threatened. Their justification is not evident. An African proverb says that development is not totally the affair of the indegenes. A good part of it comes from outside. Most SA people think that foreigners are coming in to take their jobs. Sure!! there is some truism in that, but some hard facts from South Africa have it a good portion of black South Africans are lazy people. In South Africa, a native with a Master's Degree, for instance will be expected to be apointed a school director. But when a foreigner with a PH.D is given the job, the South African(s) will start looking at the foreigner with disgust. Some people claim that South Africans can't put pen on paper but can talk from dusk till dawn. Some observers have blamed this phenomenon on the South African government during the era of APARTHEID that systematically kept South Africans ignorant about what is happening in the internatiional community. Some vestiges of APARTHEID are still lingering in the SA society.

    WE PRAY THE GOV'T OF THABO MBEKI WILL ARREST THE SITUATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND LET THE GOOD SPIRITS OF MADIBA NELSON ROLIHAHA MANDELA COME DOWN ON THOSE WAYWARD INDIVIDUALS AND PEACE, TRANQUILITY SHOULD REIGN NOW AND FOR EVER!! AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!


    WALTER WILSON NANA
  16. Posted on Friday 23 May 2008 15:50
    Harry
    Image of Harry

    Harry Mangulenje
    96 berichten
    Lid sinds March 2008
    Blantyre, Malawi

    Let me pour myself on the situation in south africa. To begin with I expected it. One day a french journalist was trainingns us sociaties and cultures in African people he said n his travels across the continent he discovered that there is a big gap between whites and blacks in south africa. He said most sotuth africans are so poor that you can not imagine that they live below a dollar, yet their country is a super economy. This economy is for an isolated smnall group of community. He he found out that hard work is not in thedictionary of south africans. That is why violence ie rampant because people are lazy. That is why they are jealous of any foreigner who comes in regardless of his race, works hard and makes wealth when thbey are watching. They hate it.

    But the proble is that south africans can not expect hospitality when they visit other lands. They have painted a bad picture of themselves. The whole africa will one day become so hostile to them elsewhere. The other problem is that soutrh african politicians are afraid of scratching these poor violent people because they are in majority and they hold big votes for their candidatures. Suffice to say Mbeki is a failure. Because being a super economy he needed to continue the old white policies of assisting other african countries esp neighbours. Do you know that is is white southn africans who started constructing Malawi's capital city? It was a way of keeping Malawians at home. That is the samer tactic spain uses to keep moroccans at home. Help neighbours effectively they would never trouble your home. expected it and I expect more chaos in retariation against south africans if this continues