The chapter will provide a brief history and critique of the ways in which xenophobia has been understood in south africa. South africas cities, which in many ways are still struggling to erase the imprint of apartheid. Reflections, narratives and recommendations hussein solomon university of the free state, republic of south africa hitomi kosaka osaka university, japan and university of the free state abstract xenophobia, simply put, is the fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers. Mar 02, 2017 a senior au official told iss today then that if south africa refused entry to albashir, that coming on top of the xenophobia would wreck its relations with africa. The study focuses on the xenophobic attacks in south africa. South africa xenophobic attacks tensions over immigration erupted into violence in pretoria, south africa, this week.
On 11 april 2015, several south africans attacked foreigners in a xenophobic attack in durban, south africa, which extended to some parts of johannesburg. Proactive solutions needed to solve xenophobia problem. From apartheid to democracy and now its xenophobia. Mar 02, 2017 in 20, mtn nigeria reported more profits than mtn south africa.
An outbreak of violence in south africa results in the same kind of panic as one in our own country because many zimbabweans have close family members and friends in south africa. Widespread attacks targeting foreigners took place in may 2008, killing 62 people and making international headlines. Another wave of violence occurred in april 2015, leading. Xenophobic killing in south africa caught by photos cnn.
South africa witnessed widespread xenophobic attacks since 1994 in provinces such as gauteng, western cape, free state, limpopo and kwazulu natal. Xenophobic violence in democratic south africa south. In 20, mtn nigeria reported more profits than mtn south africa. Xenophobic violence in cities is a phenomenon that deserves policy attention and direct intervention by central government, local authorities and community leaders. With south africa, there is always an issue to contend with. What is xenophobia and how does it come about south african. Xenophobic violence erupts in south africa human rights watch. Though not supported by data, these attacks are thought to have substantially grown in frequency after the democratic government came to power in 1994 after the end of the apartheid era. Achimwene xenophobia can occur anytime in south africa. In the new south africa, targeting the black african immigrant, in particular, has. Due to growing xenophobia, foreign workers are also held directly responsible by some south africans for 27% unemployment, undercutting local small businesses and an opioid epidemic.
Existing research on the determinants of south african xenophobia has focused on developing and advancing theories, with little attention paid to testing which theories, if any, actually account for mass xenophobia. In the new south africa, targeting the black african immigrant, in particular, has resulted in a new cycle of exclusion. Xenophobia in south africa and nigeria by omano edigheji. Since the 2008 xenophobic violence in the country, there has been a. The chapter revealed that while xenophobic experiences in nigeria during the 1980s was fuelled by the economic crisis that plagued the oilrich country due to the collapse in oil prices in the.
African migrants, xenophobia and urban violence in post. South africa leaders took notice after james oatway caught the horror in a wave of violence. There has been this and much speculation of the causes and triggers of the violence. Jan 27, 2016 xenophobia attacks imminent in sa jan 27, 2016 baxter mkumba top news 711 there are fears of a possible flareup of violence against foreign nationals in south africa.
The proportion of south africas total population that is foreign born increased from 2. Manifestations of xenophobia are usually triggered by intense dislike or hatred against. 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. Nov 14, 2017 this chapter examines the context of xenophobia in nigeria and that of south africa and assesses the attendant implications for panafricanism. Xenophobic violence erupts in south africa human rights. About 25 percent of the articles associated migrants in some way with crime in south africa, with some laying the blame for the high crime rates directly on non. Pdf there is a growing realization that racism, xenophobia and intolerance are the root. South africa judith hayem a a clersecnrs, universite lille 1 version of record first published. Xenophobia can take many different forms, such as humiliating and offensive comments about the outgroup, hate speech, bullying of minority children at schools, violence of locals and police towards immigrants, ethnic cleansing in an area and mass expulsion from the country. A retrospective study of the effects of xenophobia on south africanigeria relations oluyemi fayomi, felix chidozie, charles ayo.
The entire african neighbourhood is horrified by reports of violent attacks targeted at foreign nationals residing in south africa. Meanwhile, in the rest of africa, south africa is widely seen as an alternative destination to europe by economic refugees. Figure 8 tweets regarding xenophobia in south africa the rainbow nation gone berserk. Xenophobia in south africa jesuit refugee service australia. The proportion of south africa s total population that is foreign born increased from 2. Historical overview of nigeria south africa relations. We, the undersigned civil society organisations write to you to raise concerns about the continued recurrence of xenophobic attacks against nonnationals living in the republic of south africa.
Bronwyn harris is a former project manager at the centre for the study of violence and. Studies have investigated the causes of xenophobia with varied reasons emerging. Apr 23, 2015 the entire african neighbourhood is horrified by reports of violent attacks targeted at foreign nationals residing in south africa. Xenophobia attacks imminent in sa malawi 24 malawi news.
Making south africa the largest recipient of immigrants on the african continent in 2019. But its real focus is on civil society organisations, which played a key role in mitigating the worst of the violence and assisting victims, while the state dithered. The report analyses the conditions that allowed xenophobic violence to erupt in south africa in may 2008, leaving 62 people dead. South africa is seen as a country with economic opportunity and promise, and has attracted millions of displaced people from africa.
But president zumas condemnation of violence alone will do little to address the root causes of recurring xenophobia in south africa. It goes without saying that the community will be looked down upon by others and on a global platform as well. Xenophobia in south africa before the may and june series of violent events. Addressing social cohesion and xenophobia in south africa. It is saddening to know that nigerians and other africans are still being killed on a regular basis in south africa over what has commonly be referred to as xenophobia. Xenophobia is the word used to describe the phenomenon. Exploring the discursive nuances of the south african. Their findings have been broadly similar, focussing. As we evolved the most dangerous animal a human could encounter was an unfamiliar human. In south africa, violence follows a surge in xenophobia the. Why xenophobic attacks persist in south africa vanguard news.
Xenophobia is a broad notion, associated with a variety of meanings. South africa now has the unfortunate reputation as one of the more hostile destinations in the world for african migrants. Before 1994, foreigners faced violence and discrimination especially from the. A retrospective study of the effects of xenophobia on south. An escalation in incidents of xenophobia within postapartheid south africa has been fully documented. Xenophobia has an adverse effect on the society as well as economy of a region. A retrospective study of the effects of xenophobia on. May 06, 2015 in 2014, at the usafrica leaders summit, former south african ambassador to the us ebrahim rasool declared south africa a moral superpower, able to teach the world the way nelson mandela. This study seeks to understand the causes and nature of xenophobia in south africa.
Post apartheid south africa symbolises freedom and prosperity, a safe haven from war, a sanctuary away from poverty. The development of a conceptual framework within which to analyse violent collective behaviour. In south africa, there is a sentiment prevalent among a sizable portion of. Xenophobia in south africa a brief summary by alice. Yet despite its notoriety, xenophobia in south africa has been one of those phenomenon that are little understood and under researched, and seem to only attention attack. Mtn is not the only south african brand that could be adversely affected by the wake of the xenophobic protests. The african union last year proposed an african passport that would allow. The impact of xenophobic attacks on south african brands. Apr 20, 2015 south africa leaders took notice after james oatway caught the horror in a wave of violence.
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. This chapter examines the context of xenophobia in nigeria and that of south africa and assesses the attendant implications for panafricanism. Since the 2008 xenophobic violence in the country, there has been a growing literature on xenophobia. A senior au official told iss today then that if south africa refused entry to albashir, that coming on top of the xenophobia would wreck its relations with africa. Violence, crime and xenophobia during south africas transition, violence and transition series, vol. Identification and summary of explanations offered for xenophobic violence in south africa during may and june 2008 series of outbursts. Xenophobia in south africa nomsa dumani xenophobia has developed as a consequence of the eradication of the apartheid system in south africa university of pretoria. Jul 01, 2016 the 2015 xenophobic attacks are a fresh reminder of antiimmigrant sentiments in south africa.
In south africa, there is a sentiment prevalent among. Reflections, narratives and recommendations hussein solomon university of the free state, republic of south africa hitomi kosaka osaka university, japan and university of the free state abstract xenophobia, simply put, is the fear or. Pdf on jan 22, 2019, aretha asakitikpi and others published. But the recent wave of xenophobia has tarnished this image and fuelled resentment among those who accuse south africa of an arrogant exceptionalism that looks down on. In 2014, at the usafrica leaders summit, former south african ambassador to the us ebrahim rasool declared south africa a moral superpower, able to. Feb 26, 2017 xenophobia against people of other religions and ethnicities in nigeria is as inhumane as xenophobia abroad against socalled foreigners in south africa and elsewhere. Xenophobia, urban violence, multiculturalism, migrants, south africa. 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. Here, well check out the causes and negative effects of xenophobia. Xenophobic violence and national subjectivity in south africa, journal of southern african studies, 39.
The last section concludes the work and proffers relevant policy recommendations. Mar 04, 2018 due to growing xenophobia, foreign workers are also held directly responsible by some south africans for 27% unemployment, undercutting local small businesses and an opioid epidemic. Africans by some cruel black south african mobs in south african. Perhaps not to the individual, but to his relatives, his troop, his genes. South africa has had several incidents of xenophobic attacks during the last two decades. Its not unique to south africa, and is based usually on ignorance and intolerance for people who are different t. Mar 09, 2017 it is saddening to know that nigerians and other africans are still being killed on a regular basis in south africa over what has commonly be referred to as xenophobia. Xenophobic violence against foreign nationals in south africa has worsened. This case was chosen because it is an example of a xenophobic incident.
Identification and summary of explanations offered for xenophobic violence in south africa during may and june 2008 series of. After widespread violence in 2008 and 2015, south africa is now clearly one of most hostile destinations in the world for african migrants. This depicts the pull factors exerted from south africa. The fourth part narrows the discussion to specific case study analysis of xenophobic attacks on nigerians in south africa. The content and causes of xenophobia a limited number of qualitative studies have focussed on the xenophobic experience from its victims and sought to understand foreigners2 perceptions and understandings of xenophobia and life in south africa. List of books and articles about xenophobia online. The reoccurrence of these attacks has raised concerns in many quarters as to whether the government has done enough to stop the attacks. Reporter peter granitz says foreigners are scapegoats for those who are. Existing research on the determinants of south african xenophobia has focused on developing and advancing theories, with little attention paid to testing which. Shoprite, a leading retailer in south africa has about 7 stores in nigeria compared to the 600 store in south africa. Xenophobia against people of other religions and ethnicities in nigeria is as inhumane as xenophobia abroad against socalled foreigners in south africa and elsewhere. The rise of violent xenophobia in the new south africa csvr. South african civil society and xenophobia the atlantic.
Violence, crime and xenophobia during south africas transition by bronwyn harris violence and transition series, vol. Pdf reactions and actions to xenophobia in south africa an. Egypt located at the crossroads of africa and the arab world, nigeria, the most populous state of the continent, and south africa, which is the only developed. Apr 17, 2015 but the recent wave of xenophobia has tarnished this image and fuelled resentment among those who accuse south africa of an arrogant exceptionalism that looks down on the rest of the continent. But the recent wave of xenophobia has tarnished this image and fuelled resentment among those who accuse south africa of an arrogant exceptionalism that looks down on the rest of the continent. While it is difficult to put a rand value of how much xenophobia is damaging south africa the brand, there is no doubt that there is a real. Xenophobia in south africa causes, attacks and history. It is particularly depressing that the riots started after the media reported zulu king goodwill zwelithini saying that foreigners must pack their bags and go.
Several people, both foreign and south african alike, were killed with some of the killings captured on camera. The term xenophobia comes from the greek words xenos, meaning foreigner, stranger, and phobos, meaning fear. What causes the rise of xenophobia in south africa. Apr 20, 2015 south africas unemployment data shows that 26. The individual, the state and the international system article pdf available july 2016 with 8,623 reads how we measure reads. The experience of xenophobia in south africa article pdf available in american journal of orthopsychiatry 811. Some, like michael neocosmos, director of global movements research at the university of south africa unisa, recall antimigrant sentiment in the early nineties, when the new government was in the midst of planning new economic policies and politicians of all stripes began drumming up antiimmigrant. However, it could be argued, not all immigrants are subject to incidents of xenophobia. The impact xenophobic violence in south africa has on. South africas bouts of xenophobia fly in the face of competing efforts to increase unity across the continent. In south africa, violence follows a surge in xenophobia. Xenophobia in south africa is a phenomenon synonymous with violence and hatred towards foreigners. Mar 10, 2017 recurrence of xenophobic attacks in south africa. Debate, discourse, and everyday experience in cape town, south africa, africa today 56, 3 2010, pp.
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