South Africa is currently in the midst of what are being widely described as “xenophobic attacks” on ‘foreign nationals’ within the country, generally categorised as migrant workers or shop owners. The attacks have so far left several dead. Against a backdrop of several thousand engaged in an anti-violence march, other reports claim that over 300 arrests have been made in connection to the violence.
So called anti-immigrant violence is not a new phenomenon. In an article entitled “Misdirected violence in South Africa” from June 2008 Luwezi Kinshasa, Secretary General of the African Socialist International asserts: “Many observers are not surprised by this violence; there have been regular anti-immigrant campaigns for years in the South African neocolonial press. South Africa media coverage of so-called ‘foreigners’ in a wide range of sources is overwhelmingly negative, relying on stereotypes about Africans coming from outside South Africa as ‘criminals,’ ‘illegal’ and ‘job stealers’.”
One feature of the violence is it doesn’t appear to be blanket “anti-immigrant.” The main targets are overwhelmingly (though not exclusively) other Afrikans from neighbouring Zimbabwe, Malaawi and Mozambique as well as further afield from DR Congo, Somalia and Nigeria, prompting the likes of commentator Sibusiso Tshabalala, in consideration of the impact of “afriphobia,” to ponder: “Why is it that a Somali man can run a shop in a township, get raided and beaten up, while a white immigrant in town continues to run a restaurant full of patrons?”
One main factor for consideration is the rampant inequality that still exists within the country two decades after the supposed “fall” of apartheid, in spite of the emergence of a super rich Black middle class. According to research (by Leibbrandta, Finna & Woolarda, 2012) Afrikans make up over 90% of the country’s poor at the same time they are 79.5% of the population. Other studies (Klein 2007) cite the number of people living on less than $1 a day has doubled from 2 million in 1994 to 4 million in 2006. Crucially, the economy (including the land) is still controlled by Europeans, who within the context of the reports do not generally appear to be regarded as “foreigners.” Paradoxically, then it is the ANC government that are regarded by some as the real custodians of foreign interests (the country has had an Afrikan Minister of Finance for less than one year of the 21 years since the “free elections” of 1994 that brought Nelson Mandela’s ANC government to power). In this vein, Julius Malema leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters opines: “The state, being the elder for the whole of society, becomes responsible for all the violence meted against our foreign nationals. It was through the State that our people were told that resolution to differences should be through violence. It was under your leadership that when you disagreed with people at Marikana, you killed them because you never believed in peaceful resolution of differences.”
It is also alleged that the inequalities are profoundly manifest in the arena of social justice such as recent release of “Prime Evil” apartheid death squad leader Eugene de Kock who was responsible for hundreds of murders was released 19 years into a 212 year (yes 212) sentence in the interests of “nation-building and reconciliation”(according to the Justice Minister), yet PAC/APLA political prisoners like Kenny Motsamai still languish in jail. What these political prisoners represent is a drive towards self determination not evident in much of the country’s political scene. However, it could be argued that it is in some ways ascendant with the move to tear down representations of South Africa’s inglorious racist past – like the statue of Cecil Rhodes at the University of Cape Town. Some commentators have even suggested that the “xenophobia” outbreak is a ‘convenient’ diversion from that orientation.
So we ask the question:
What’s behind the “xenophobic violence” in South Africa?
- Why are Europeans largely escaping the violence?
- Does the South African media stoke “anti-immigrant” sentiments?
- Why is South Africa one of the most unequal nations on the planet?
- Is the ANC government responsible?
- Who really controls South Africa?
- Is the early release of mass murderers the best way to bring about “nation-building and reconciliation”?
- Is the “xenophobic violence” a created diversion against a nascent movement for self-determination?
Our special guests are:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and UNIA-ACL Ambassador for the UK. A veteran activist of over 30 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An Africentric Guide To Excellence
Bro. Xolani Xala: Political commentator and former Chair of ANC London Branch.
Baba Buntu (Amani Olubanjo Buntu): founder and Executive Director of Ebukhosini Solutions a community development capacity building organisation based in Azania (South Africa), specialising in cultural events, education, training, production, management and social entrepreneurship.
AFRIKA SPEAKS with ALKEBU-LAN Mondays 8-10pm (GMT)Hosted by
Sis Kai Ouagadou-Mbandaka & Bro. Omowale Kwaw
Galaxy Radio | 102.5fm | www.galaxyafiwe.com (To listen live)
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