Bronwyn harris is a former project manager at the centre for the study of violence and. Xenophobia has become a more global term rather than a mental illness. President jacob zuma cancelled a trip to indonesia and visited refugee camps in durban on saturday. Xenophobia and party politics in south africa the mail. Until recently, spatial data on crime in south africa were not readily available to the public. Thus, attempts to map south african xenophobic impulses directly onto.
The geography of xenophobia in southern africa the negative attitudes of south africans towards noncitizens, migrants. Understanding the causes and the nature of xenophobia in. 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. Xenophobia attacks of nigerians in south africa vanguard news. Prior to 1994, immigrants from elsewhere faced discrimination and even violence in south.
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. Mar 02, 2017 it is high time south africans begin to tackle the problem of xenophobia for what it is if only for the sake of selfinterest. Xenophobia amounts to violent harassment of immigrants from other countries in africa, killing. 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. May 31, 2019 xenophobia has become a more global term rather than a mental illness. The evidence shows that they contribute to south africa and south africans by providing jobs, paying rent, paying vat and providing affordable and convenient goods. The fear worsened when horrific images and videos were circulated via social media. Fortunately, it is now possible to map such crimes due to the efforts of research institutions and nongovernmental organisations such as the acms and the institute for security studies. The proportion of south africa s total population that is foreign born increased from 2. In 2014, at the usafrica leaders summit, former south african ambassador to the us ebrahim rasool declared south africa a moral superpower, able to. 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.
Their findings have been broadly similar, focussing. Filtered through the racist lens of the predominantly whiteowned south african media, xenophobia is portrayed as merely further examples of blackonblack. Understanding the causes and the nature of xenophobia in south africa. A test of eight theories christopher claassen school of social and political sciences university of glasgow glasgow, g12 8qq, uk christopher. Xenophobia in south africa before the may and june series of violent events. 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. Emerging first in township communities around johannesburg, the aggression spread to other provinces. Feb 24, 2017 south africas bouts of xenophobia fly in the face of competing efforts to increase unity across the continent. In summary, as at 31 december 2018, xenowatch had recorded 529 xenophobic violence incidents that resulted in 309 deaths. It is important to remember that the large majority of those who reject or dislike foreigners in south africa are antiblack immigrant and afrophobic. In fact, spatial data on xenophobic violence were nonexistent.
The targets were individuals who had migrated from the north in search of asylum. 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. In may 2008, xenophobic violence erupted in south africa. However, it could be argued, not all immigrants are subject to incidents of xenophobia. 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. South africa has the potential to achieve regional hegemony in africa, but in order to do so it must address phenomena such as xenophobia, which imposes severe limitations on its credibility and. A brief history and context of xenophobia in south africa, from 2008 to the most recent incidents. Initially it was described as a psychological disposition of people towards foreigners but in recent times it is used to describe intergroup relations in the context of mass migration. Jul 01, 2016 south africa has the potential to achieve regional hegemony in africa, but in order to do so it must address phenomena such as xenophobia, which imposes severe limitations on its credibility and.
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. Identification and summary of explanations offered for xenophobic violence in south africa during may and june 2008 series of. South africa leaders took notice after james oatway caught the horror in a wave of violence. An escalation in incidents of xenophobia within postapartheid south africa has been fully documented.
A retrospective study of the effects of xenophobia on south. Pdf there is a growing realization that racism, xenophobia and intolerance are the root causes of most of. Apr 20, 2015 the evidence shows that they contribute to south africa and south africans by providing jobs, paying rent, paying vat and providing affordable and convenient goods. Sixtytwo people died, and 100,000 20,000 in the western cape alone were displaced.
Jan 31, 2017 like photographs, maps can provide many layers of information since they have the ability to offer an objective representation while also calling on peoples imagination. Violence is an integral part of the social fabric, even although the new south african discourse belies this. Why xenophobic attacks persist in south africa vanguard news. Last month, during two weeks in may, 2008, a series of attacks took place all over south africa. Apr 20, 2015 south africa leaders took notice after james oatway caught the horror in a wave of violence. Attacks did not disappear with 2008 attacks incidents of xenophobic and xenophobicrelated violence continue to be reported in south africa. Examining the public perception of nigerian students in south africa on the impact of xenophobia on their activities. The fourth part narrows the discussion to specific case study analysis of xenophobic attacks on nigerians in south africa.
The impact xenophobic violence in south africa has on. It is high time south africans begin to tackle the problem of xenophobia for what it is if only for the sake of selfinterest. South africa xenophobic attacks tensions over immigration erupted into violence in pretoria, south africa, this week. Then in may 2008, xenophobia rose up in a new light and took a whole new look, in an uprise that left more than 62 people dead. Africans by some cruel black south african mobs in south african. White foreigners and immigrants dont experience xenophobia in south africa. Nongovernmental organisations and xenophobia 243 in may 2008, xenophobic attacks in south africa left more than 60 african migrants and refugees dead and thousands homeless. Nongovernmental organisations and xenophobia in south. Xenophobic attacks not a new phenomenon in south africa started even before may 2008 attacks that rocked the nation and the international community. Indeed by belying and excluding xenophobia, the new south africa discourse is able to define itself as peaceful and tolerant. African migrants, xenophobia and urban violence in post. Bronwyn harris is a former project manager at the centre for the study of violence and reconciliation. Investigating the public perception of nigerian students in south africa on the educational implications of xenophobia.
Making south africa the largest recipient of immigrants on the african continent in 2019. 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. 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. Media in category xenophobia in south africa the following 10 files are in this category, out of 10 total. Xenophobia is seen as an intense or irrational dislike of people from the outside, or other countries. Feb 26, 2017 xenophobia in south africa and nigeria by omano edigheji just as they are outraged about the xenophobia against nigerians in other countries, nigerians should be equally outraged by xenophobia.
The experience of xenophobia in south africa article pdf available in american journal of orthopsychiatry 811. A critical study of the phenomenon and pragmatic solutions for south africa by gideon rwanda muchiri submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree. In recent years xenophobia has emerged as one of the major contributing factors to urban violence in several african countries. Meanwhile, in the rest of africa, south africa is widely seen as an alternative destination to europe by economic refugees. This paper argues that xenophobia in south africa is entangled in discourses of liberation. Identification and summary of explanations offered for xenophobic violence in south africa during may and june 2008 series of outbursts. It is reserved mainly for poor black foreigners from the african continent. Xenophobic violence has become a longstanding feature in postapartheid south africa. In south africa, violence follows a surge in xenophobia the. Xenophobia is defined as the fear or hatred of strangers and their culture. Xenophobia is a form of violence and violence is the norm in south africa. Mar 29, 2017 xenophobia attacks of nigerians in south africa. In the new south africa, targeting the black african immigrant, in particular, has.
List of books and articles about xenophobia online research. The african union last year proposed an african passport that would allow. It has been noted that manifestations of xenophobia often increase during periods of economic hardship, election campaigns, political instability and conflict. For many africans, south africa represents a land of opportunity and a. 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. With south africa, there is always an issue to contend with. The phenomenon of xenophobia as experienced by immigrant learners in inner city schools of johannesburg by razia osman submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master of education with specialisation in guidance and counselling at the university of south africa supervisor. The development of a conceptual framework within which to analyse violent collective behaviour. Many of the displaced congregated outside police stations, arriving with just the clothing on their backs. This book examines specific examples of xenophobia, particularly xenophobic violence, in the news in an attempt to explain what xenophobia is, where it comes from, and how it can be. Xenophobia in south africa jesuit refugee service australia. The proportion of south africas total population that is foreign born increased from 2. It is no longer ethnic identity but national and increasingly black african.
What causes the rise of xenophobia in south africa. The xenophobic discourse, developed increasingly since the 1990s by the south african department of home affairs and the media in relation to migrants and migration,7 seems to have been internalised by many people in south africa as a new way to conceptualise their relationship to the nation. Historical overview of nigeria south africa relations. The south african government is taking steps to bring the latest outbreak of attacks against foreign nationals in kwazulunatal and gauteng under control. Recently these xenophobic attitudes have led to acts of extreme violence in a number of different places, including the united states, europe, and south africa. They are professionals who found themselves in a difficult and disturbing situation without a clear map or resources to change it. The last section concludes the work and proffers relevant policy recommendations. Xenophobia in south africa and nigeria by omano edigheji just as they are outraged about the xenophobia against nigerians in other countries, nigerians should be. Xenophobia in south africa and nigeria by omano edigheji. Xenophobia in south africa causes, attacks and history. Xenophobic violence and struggle discourse open research online. In 2010 the press carried numerous articles claiming that there would be massive planned xenophobic violence at the end of. Historical overview of nigeriasouth africa relations.
Mar 10, 2017 recurrence of xenophobic attacks in south africa. The impact of xenophobia to sa the brand south africa news. While many have traced the rise of xenophobia in south africa to the post apartheid era, the. African migrants, xenophobia and urban violence in postapartheid south africa daniel tevera abstract the urban space in south africa is increasingly becoming a troubled terrain of xenophobic violence. In situations of increasing poverty and diminishing opportunities in the areas of employment, housing, social welfare, education and healthcare, perceived. Abstract the negative attitudes of south africans towards noncitizens. Like photographs, maps can provide many layers of information since they have the ability to offer an objective representation while also calling on peoples imagination.
Exploring the discursive nuances of the south african. To set up an effective early warning mechanism, the state should first map. Xenophobic killing in south africa caught by photos cnn. Many political beliefs have been claimed to be causing xenophobic attacks in places like south africa. Copyright and moral rights for the articles on this site are retained by the individual. Violence, crime and xenophobia during south africas transition by bronwyn harris violence and transition series, vol. South africa has the potential to achieve regional hegemony in africa, but in order to do so it must address phenomena such as xenophobia, which imposes severe limitations on. Citizen attitudes to immigration and refugee policy in southern africa pdf. They beat my husband with sticks and took everything this article is more than 5 years old. In a clash between the poorest of the poor, gangs of local black south. 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. South africa has had several incidents of xenophobic attacks during the last two decades. South africas bouts of xenophobia fly in the face of competing efforts to increase unity across the continent.