This popular trend that agitated the foreigners in South Africa is at the forefront once again. Once again? Wait! Has Xenophobia occurred in the past? Are Nigerians the only sufferers of this violent movement? What is Xenophobia? Why is it exhibited? What do the people that bear the brunt of insurrection have to say?
Let’s see, let’s see. What is Xenophobia? Xenophobia is a Greek - originated word, connoting the fear or abhor of anything or anyone foreign. So who are these people that make South Africans so audacious to hurt, torture or even murder? Be informed though, that this persecution has been a reoccurring event in the political history of South Africa. The Congolese and the Mozambicans before 2012 have been also been victimized in this unlawful manner. For instance, Legislative acts have been enacted against the Indian immigrants. The 1994 establishment of democratic government has not really pacified the effects of the apartheid policy. Rather some nationalists have resorted to a series of xenophobic attacks.
South Africa happens to be one of the most resourceful country in Africa but it also has a subhuman standard of living within and out of the economic hubs of the country such as Johannesburg. They are equally struggling for survival and try to maintain the hard work of sustainable infrastructure and other amenities. When they see that a number of foreigners is not respecting the principles, laws or policies of their country, people are agitated and feel threatened. Therefore, irate missions such as xenophobic attacks come to play.The recent outburst has now targeted Nigerians, among others.
Why? Many arguments are raised. But the one that rings a sounding bell is that the Nigerians are getting hold of their jobs and their women. Plus they infuse the drug dealing business into the society Hmm…Is such an argument plausible? The Nigerian society defends that this obnoxious act is ungratefulness on the part of the S. Africans. A reliable media source assures that between 1960 to 1995, the Nigerian government spent over 61 billion dollars for the abortion of the apartheid policy. What do they get in return? Attacks, physical and emotional threat, murders.
According to Omano Edighedi, the few zealots of Xenophobia confuse immigration with criminality. Their stereotyped beliefs that all immigrants are criminals and evil to the society have rubbed their minds off reality. Their actions contradict the race Nelson Mandela has run for cultural unity and the title Archbishop Desmond Tutu has bestowed on South Africa –the Rainbow Nation.
