Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa: An Individual’s Perspective

Monday, 30 June 2008 | posted by Matt_BC
General, Guildford 2008, Human Rights

A month ago a plight of xenophobic attacks hit my country. News quickly spread to the rest of the world about "semi-war zone" South Africa.

It is estimated that 22 people died in the attacks, many of them enduring torture and abuse before death. Hundreds of foreign owned shops looted, people taking food, portable appliances and clothes amongst others. Less than a hundred arrests were made, tens of thousands of foreigners displaced and more than a million South African Rand worth of goods looted.

This might be what you have heard in the news reports you have encountered, but in making sense of all of it, this is what I say: South Africa is a country that has endured decades of suffering. It has faced tribal occupation, colonization and Apartheid. 14 years ago we got our democracy and were all finally regarded as equals and dignified humans on South African land.

However, I cannot ignore the fact that the newly found freedom has laid ground for new divisions. People are looking for particularistic identities, becoming particularly smaller in their thinking and breeding a discriminatory and racial conception. I choose not to judge those who have carried out the attacks though, as being a citizen of this country has made me part of the violence and shame that later followed.

To an immensely large degree, I would correlate the attacks to the psychological conditioning of South Africans, black South Africans that is. After Apartheid it was expected that we would all live together in bliss in the land of milk and honey, seeing no color or class. I am one of those who attended a multi-racial school during and after the year we had our first democratic elections, not knowing of any racism or ethnicity. I was happy. Until I grew up to realize the opportunities I would have been privy to had I or my parents been a lighter shade of brown-white. But, truth is, in many black communities, the darkness of the teargas bombs from the oppressive regime is still as dark as the garbage-filth filled streets they walk through whilst choking from the air of industrial exploiters in the townships to their homes. See, truth is, reform has not yet fully taken place in South Africa. This is evident in our living standards and everyday interactions.

As a large number of the country has continued to live in dehumanizing and self-diminishing conditions, they have developed a hatred for themselves and one another; and xenophobia has become this comfortable cloth that everyone wants to put over the problem without looking at the root causes of it.

We cannot speak of "re-integrating the foreigners into our communities" President Mbeki, as integration is still to take place amongst fellow South Africans, and that includes fair and monitored economic and social inclusion. Our movements are free in this democracy, but to a large extent our minds are still in chains.

The starting point is in helping people appreciate themselves more, and this involves treating them like humans. In South Africa people still need to learn to tolerate each other and live together. Secondly, the media propaganda needs come to an end. The media must stop portraying Africans and Muslims as horrific people. Yes, I believe that culture does play a part in war and conflict. But most of it is about acknowledgement, legitimization and representation of different identities, ways of being and conducting relationships. Humans cannot be replicated and the media needs to stop displaying the actions of a few individuals as a cultural or national norm. People need to be aware of this and strive to change it, which brings me to my last point. Africans themselves must not view Africa as a place of consternation and shame. We need to be proud of who we are and where we come from. We need to accept that cultures are dynamic and ever-changing, then we can draw from them for common sense, guidance and unity. It starts with the individual becoming aware, proud and responsible for what they stand for.

Complete reform and integration probably cannot be achieved within 14 years, but with a common responsibility, social consciousness and movement, we can mobilize this country for the better. Let us not fail ourselves.

Asanda Dodi