South Africa: What you need to know about ‘xenophobic attacks’
The
xenophobic attack on Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa is
the major topic of discourse on the lips of everyone due to the recent
spate of violent and deadly attacks.
This
episode of violence has prompted a flurry of high-level condemnations
and criticisms from international bodies and government officials across
various countries.
The
violence echoes sporadic outbreaks of attacks mainly targeting migrants
from other African countries in some of South Africa’s poorest areas.
It
should be recalled that in 2008 and 2015, the world was horrified by
the savage scenes of xenophobic violence towards African immigrants in
South Africa despite the unprecedented support provided by African
countries during South Africa’s struggle to end ‘apartheid’.
Prior to 1994, immigrants from different countries faced discrimination and even violence in South Africa.
After
majority rule in 1994, contrary to expectations, the incidence of
xenophobia increased. Between 2000 and March 2008, at least 67 people
died as a result of the incessant xenophobic attacks.
What is ‘xenophobic violence’
Xenophobic
violence refers to any act/acts of violence, perpetrated by local
communities or groups against an individual or group of individuals,
based on the perception that the victim/victims of this violence do not
belong to the perpetrators’ community, society or nationality.
The
attacks towards foreign nationals or perceived outsiders are often
expressed in the forms of murder, assaults, intimidation and harassment.
Such
attacks can include arson attacks on non-nationals and/or their
property or the looting and robbery of non-nationals’ shops.
These
xenophobic attacks occur across all nine provinces of South Africa,
while the Western Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Limpopo,
Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape are mostly affected.
Reason for ‘xenophobic violence’
One
of the many reasons advanced by some South Africans for their anger
towards black Africans since the xenophobic violence of 2008 and 2015 is
that ‘foreigners are taking jobs from indigenes in the country’.
A
Pew Research poll conducted in 2018 showed that 62% of South Africans
viewed immigrants as a burden on society by taking jobs and social
benefits and that 61% of South Africans thought that immigrants were
more responsible for crime than other groups.
South Africa’s Legal Obligation to Protect Foreign Nationals
South
Africa has ratified numerous international instruments that place an
onus on the country to ensure that it provides protection against all
forms of discrimination, including xenophobia and xenophobic violence.
In
accordance with this legislation, refugees and asylum seekers in South
Africa are legally entitled to the same rights as South African
citizens, except for the right to vote.
However,
with the ongoing situation, the South African Government need to send
out a ‘strong message’ to its citizens that ‘hostility towards
non-nationals will not acceptable under any circumstances’.
SOURCE: Today.ng