Emmeka Uhanna is a hard working shop-owner who lives in Johannesburg, the social and economic hub of South Africa. Though he has a stable family and economic life, Uhanna fears for himself as an immigrant and for the social acceptance of his children’s future. He fears for his shop, and that it will be looted as a target for riots. (Fihlani). Uhanna’s crime to warrant this fear is simple: he is Nigerian. Uhanna is just one in hundreds of foreign nationals in South Africa who are currently being targeted and victimized by South Africans for being immigrants.
Xenophobia, known as intense dislike or fear of people from other countries, has become more and more prevalent among many countries, such as America, that are particularly divers. South Africa is no exception from the growing dissent towards immigrants. In fact, xenophobic actions have become increasing violent in South Africa.
Many South Africans blame foreigners, primarily Nigerians and Somalis, for the high unemployment rate and crime rate that continues to plague South Africa. This growing discontentment towards immigrants has led to a South Africa first mindset that strives to place South African citizens first. Mario Khumalo, the founder of the political party South Africa First Party and a patriotic South African, states his reasons for South Africa’s current stance on immigrants: “We are not xenophobic but we work in the interest of South Africans. It is about national identity and pride. There is no nationality called African. You are either South African‚ Angolan or Ethiopian (the Citizen). Many South Africans feel that by putting less attention on foreign nationals, they are working in the interest of bettering South Africa. In order to improve South Africa’s economy and society, they feel that they must fix the problem at the root: the immigrants who are “stealing” jobs and taking advantage of natural born South African citizens. However, South African economists have found that foreign workers actually make up only about 4 percent of the workforce (Sieff). Unfortunately, politicians and government officials still continue to put the blame of their society’s problems on something that is easier to tackle, such as immigration.
Xenophobia has not only affected South Africa: the mistreatment of foreigners has driven a rift between home countries of the targeted immigrants and South Africa. Nigeria and South Africa’s relationship has become particularly strained, causing four senators to call for the African Senate to reconsider Nigeria’s diplomatic alliance with South Africa (Jimoh). Lawmakers have instead rejected this motion, opting to send a diplomatic Nigerian delegation to the South African parliament (Jimoh). However, this suggests that tensions have begun to rise to an alarming height between the two countires. The recent xenophobic attacks have also placed a major obstacle in the African Union’s integration agenda (Ana). This growing divide between African countries not only strains diplomatic relations, but will also severely set back the African Union’s effort to unify Africa.
Xenophobia is the cause of many violent attacks towards immigrants who wanted to come to South Africa for a better life. It has disrupted Africa’s process towards a much needed strong and unified continent by causing conflicts between countries. The growing tension between immigrants and South Africans has disrupted the country’s peace, as well as the peace of Africa. As Emmeka Uhanna notes, “It's all too easy to profile one group and that is not right, it's also dangerous and puts people's lives in danger.”
ANA. “Nigerian Association Warns against Xenophobic Attacks in SA.” "The Citizen", The Citizen, Sept. 2017, citizen.co.za/news/news-national/1450905/nigerian-association-warns-xenophobic-attacks-sa/.
Anonymous. “Make South Africa Great Again!” "Huffington Post South Africa", Huffington Post South Africa, 2017, www.huffingtonpost.co.za/2017/02/24/make-south-africa-great-again/.
Jimoh, Azimazi Momoh. “Senate Rejects Calls to Severe Ties With South Africa Over Xenophobia Attacks.” https://guardian.ng/news/senate-rejects-calls-to-severe-ties-with-south-africa-over-xenophobia-attacks/
Sieff, Kevin. “In South Africa, Violence Follows a Surge in Xenophobia.” "Washington Post", Washington Post, 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-south-africa-a-surge-in-xenophobia-leads-to-violence/2017/02/24/dbf8d864-fecf-4d14-b6f5-3a25d8c46b61_story.html?utm_term=.c89fe16b956f.
Fihlani, Pumza "Xenophobia in South Africa: 'We Nigerians Are Not All Criminals'." BBC News. BBC, 01 Mar. 2017. Web. 08
Great article. My favorite aspect was how you put in the personal stories (from both viewpoint, no less) to strengthen your article and appeal to the reader on a personal level. My main take-away is that non-South Africans are being targeted as criminals because South Africans are xenophobic and blame unemployment and crime on foreign nationals. Follow up question: what are the real causes of unemployment and crime?
ReplyDeleteI really like your article, I found it particularly interesting how you put in the personal stories, it really made your article have another layer of depth to it. My main take away is that xenophobia is a growing concern in many countries around the world. What inspired you to include the personal stories?
ReplyDelete