On 11 april 2015, several south africans attacked foreigners in a xenophobic attack in durban, south africa, which extended to some parts of johannesburg. The primary objective of the study is to explore the impact of xenophobia on nigerian students in south africa with the purpose of. A new category of vulnerable victims for a new south africa. Despite a lack of directly comparable data, xenophobia in south africa is perceived to have significantly increased after the installation of a democratic government in 1994. These are some of the visions which came to the minds of zimbabweans when violence against foreigners erupted out in south africa at the end of march. Central to xenophobic attacks in south africa is the fact that it is following a path of. Xenophobic violence against foreign nationals in south africa has worsened. His death sparked a week of mob justice, which appeared to be inflamed by xenophobia. As the violence spread to nearby kagiso, a south african baby was trampled. This article seeks to shed light on the may 2008 violence against foreign africans living in south africa, and the issue of xenophobia more broadly, by examining the case of khutsong, a poor township on the edge of johannesburg that did not experience xenophobic attacks. The may 2008 xenophobic violence in south africa 149 june 2010. Anger at xenophobic attacks spreads across africa as sa.
We know such stories from previous xenophobic attacks in our neighbouring country especially in 2008. South africas bouts of xenophobia fly in the face of competing efforts to increase unity across the continent. What the xenophobic violence gripping south africa means time. The fear of renewed outbreaks of xenophobic violence in certain parts of south africa is scaring foreign visitors. A retrospective study of the effects of xenophobia on. Apr 17, 2015 african countries are speaking out in protest against south african xenophobia and a farreaching economic impact is already being felt in the face of spreading violence, sabc reports. Mahori, a south african, was allegedly a part of a group of people who attempted to rob yusufs store on january 19. Weeks after violence against foreign nationals erupted in soweto, he was relating news of progress. Five people have been killed in xenophobic violence in south africa, police said on tuesday, as president cyril ramaphosa vowed to clamp down on the attacks and the african union and nigeria sounded their alarm scores of people some armed with axes and machetes gathered in johannesburgs central business district cbd for a third day of unrest directed against foreigners, hours.
Xenophobia amounts to violent harassment of immigrants from other countries in africa, killing. Xenophobia in south africa chapter 5 addressing a group of around 300 migrant traders in early march, amir sheikh, the chairperson of the somali community board in south africa, appeared confident. Apr 20, 2015 south africa must confront the roots of its xenophobic violence william gumede attacks on migrant workers are a symptom of a culture of prejudice which, if left unchecked, will further destabilise. In may 2008, xenophobic violence erupted in south africa. Artists such as bignuz, kelly khumalo and cassper nyovest had concerts cancelled in zimbabwe and london as a result of the attacks, according to independentonline. Addressing social cohesion and xenophobia in south africa. Jeanpierre misago, tamlyn monson, tara polzer and loren landau, may 2008 violence against foreign nationals in south africa. Xenophobia in south africa causes, attacks and history. Apartheid, racism, scapegoating hypothesis, violence. What is driving xenophobic violence in south africa. Jan 31, 2017 since south africas transition to democracy, the country has observed thousands of events of xenophobic violence. Everyday animosity frequently spills over into violence against individual migrants and refugees and their economic enterprises.
Pdf xenophobic attacks and other violence in south africa. The last section concludes the work and proffers relevant policy recommendations. Examining the public perception of nigerian students in south africa on the impact of xenophobia on their activities. Since south africa s transition to democracy, the country has observed thousands of events of xenophobic violence. Despite the persistence of xenophobia and xenophobic violence in south africa, little has, until recently, been done to understand triggers of violence against foreign nationals and ethnic minorities.
Oct 02, 2019 in a statement published in october 2018, south africa s main opposition party, the democratic alliance, blamed the governing anc party for a scourge of xenophobic violence. In south africa, the year 1994 marked the end of the apartheid regime and the beginning of constitutional democracy. South africa vows crackdown on xenophobic attacks after. Artists such as bignuz, kelly khumalo and cassper nyovest had concerts cancelled in zimbabwe and london as a result of the attacks. South africa witnessed widespread xenophobic attacks since 1994 in provinces such as gauteng, western cape, free state, limpopo and kwazulu natal. African countries are speaking out in protest against south african xenophobia and a farreaching economic impact is already being felt, sabc reports. Since 1994, tens of thousands of people have been harassed, attacked, or killed because of their status as outsiders or foreign nationals. Some of these incidents reach the scrutiny of the media and officialdom, but most remain invisible. Xenophobic violence in the rainbow nation south africa.
South africa launches plan to combat xenophobia and racism. Several people, both foreign and south african alike, were killed with some of the killings captured on camera. This desktop research provides responses to these questions. Offshoots of the latest xenophobic incidents in south africa s city of johannesburg has sparked off citizen reactions in some african countries specifically in zambia and south africa. A joint statement by civil society and the south african human rights commission sahrc defines xenophobia as the deep dislike of nonnationals by nationals of a recipient state south african human rights commission 1998. Understanding causes and evaluating responses consortium for refugees and migrants in south africa and university of the witwatersrand, johannesburg, 2010. 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. Mar 25, 2019 south africa has launched its national action plan to combat xenophobia, racism, and discrimination, marking an important step towards addressing the widespread human rights abuses arising from. Xenophobia, violence, and statecraft in contemporary south africa by loren landau media memory. Preaching and violence from a south african perspective, practical theology in south africa, vol. Pdf xenophobic violence and struggle discourse in south. The african union last year proposed an african passport that would allow. Whats the economic impact of south african xenophobic. Johannesburg agricultural industry body agri sa condemned the violence and xenophobic attacks in south africa, warning that the violence has a negative impact on the economy.
The chapter will provide a brief history and critique of the ways in which xenophobia has been understood in south africa. Violent xenophobia has become a regular feature of south african life. In terms of the nature of the xenophobia in south africa, it is argued that this often goes beyond the expression of xenophobic attitudes, and takes the form of violent xenophobic behaviour which is usually targeted at black african migrants. With the recent flaring up xenophobic violence in durban and spreading to other parts of south africa, foreigners remain skeptical about their safety despite the assurances given by. The overarching issue of violent masculinity in south africa cannot be. Sep 10, 2019 we believe south africa is not a xenophobic country. The fourth part narrows the discussion to specific case study analysis of xenophobic attacks on nigerians in south africa. In may 2008, a series of attacks left 62 people dead. Local businesses fear the violence will have negative impact on south african. African diaspora forum adf, a panafrican ngo founded in 2008, works to integrate foreigners into south african society. Xenophobic violence has become a longstanding feature in postapartheid south africa. Sporadic violence against foreignowned stores and enterprises has a long history in south africa, where many locals blame immigrants for high unemployment, particularly in manual labor.
Based on indepth and rigorous field work in communities around the country, two 22. Revisiting the may 2008 xenophobic attacks in south africa. The 2015 xenophobic attacks are a fresh reminder of antiimmigrant sentiments in south africa. This paper argues that xenophobia in south africa is entangled in discourses of liberation struggle, which are often used to justify antiforeigner violence.
Xenophobic violence erupts in south africa human rights. Since the 2008 xenophobic violence in the country, there has been a growing literature on xenophobia. Xenophobic violence in democratic south africa south. Scores of people were injured and hundreds of stores were looted. Building on these understandings, it will contextualise xenophobia as a current and arguably socially located phenomenon, one which is framed as pathological. The government has been accused of failing to admit. According to a 2004 study published by the southern. Between 2000 and march 2008, at least 67 people died in what were identified as xenophobic attacks. Opposition parties submit suggestions to stop xenophobic violence.
Xeno ph obia protection from xenophobia an evaluation of unhcrs regional office for southern africas xenophobia related programmes written by. There have been frequent explosions of xenophobic violence over the past decade, notably in 2008 when 62 people, including 21 south africans, were killed and more than 150,000 displaced. The african centre for migration which maps xenophobic violence through their online site xenowatch puts the vast majority of recent incidents around the johannesburg area at 301, in kzn 77, in. A new category of vulnerable victims for a new south africa, in davis, l. The targets were individuals who had migrated from the north in search of asylum. Victims include women and children, though they are predominantly other men. In retaliatory strikes, south africanowned chain stores and trucks have. The latest wave of xenophobic attacks is undergirded by the belief that foreignersmainly migrants from other african countriesare to blame for south africa s social and economic woes.
Subsequently, xenophobic violence once again broke in the capital city of pretorout ia, producing more of the same in terms of violence and looting and displacement of black immigrants. 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. Historical overview of nigeria south africa relations. Xenophobic violence occurs in south africa s townships and informal settlements, perpetrated by its residents and directed against african foreign nationals living there. Sep 05, 2019 the backlash across africa to xenophobic violence against africans in south africa is spreading and becoming more violent. Xenophobic violence in south africa exposes unresolved tensions. Since the 2008 xenophobic violence in the country, there has. 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.
What is behind south africas xenophobic attacks on. Prior to 1994, immigrants from elsewhere faced discrimination and even violence in south africa. Violence, crime and xenophobia during south africas transition, violence and transition series, vol. An analysis of the causes, effects and ramifications of.
A retrospective study of the effects of xenophobia on south. Sep, 2019 the latest wave of xenophobic attacks is undergirded by the belief that foreignersmainly migrants from other african countriesare to blame for south africas social and economic woes. An analysis of the causes, effects and ramifications of xenophobia. Yet despite its notoriety, xenophobia in south africa has been one of those. This political transition which many black south africans witnessed, raised their hope of a country devoid of racial segregation and. In recent years xenophobia has emerged as one of the major contributing factors to urban violence in several african countries. Whoever is found on the wrong side of the law will be dealt with.
Sep 06, 2019 what the xenophobic violence gripping south africa means for future of country a shoe shop owner is helped by a staff member to inspect the damage caused by looters in germiston, east of. In february, a new wave of xenophobic violence flared up in south africa, following the violence of may 2008 62 deaths and that of 2015, targeting african immigrants in the black townships of several major cities of the country. After majority rule in 1994, contrary to expectations, the incidence of xenophobia increased. What the xenophobic violence gripping south africa means for future of country a shoe shop owner is helped by a staff member to inspect the damage caused by looters in germiston, east of. Pdf escalation of xenophobic attacks and other violence and its impact on world peace is a relevant and contemporary issue in south africas. Pdf xenophobic violence in south africa and the reactions. Whats the economic impact of south african xenophobic attacks. In addition to the abovementioned hypotheses, the social sciences in south africa proffered various other explanations for the xenophobic violence of may 2008 in the aftermath of this violence. Xenophobia, xenophobic attack, may 2008, south africa.
A critical reconstruction of the may 2008 violence bytamlyn monson and rebecca arian. Xenophobia in south africa is a phenomenon synonymous with violence and hatred towards foreigners. In south africa, there is a sentiment prevalent among a sizable portion of. What the xenophobic violence gripping south africa means. No one has been convicted over past outbreaks of xenophobic violence. Xenophobic violence occurs in south africas townships and informal settlements, perpetrated by its residents and directed against african foreign nationals living there. Apr 17, 2015 there have been frequent explosions of xenophobic violence over the past decade, notably in 2008 when 62 people, including 21 south africans, were killed and more than 150,000 displaced. South africa must confront the roots of its xenophobic violence william gumede attacks on migrant workers are a symptom of a culture of prejudice which, if. Addressing social cohesion and xenophobia in south. We believe south africa is not a xenophobic country. South africa is extremely high with regular attacks on foreign nationals. Arguing against prevailing explanations that link xenophobia with poverty and deprivation, this study examines the. Violence perpetrated by the police and south african citizens.
The impact xenophobic violence in south africa has on. There has been this and much speculation of the causes and triggers of the violence. The mass attacks in 2008 drew international attention to the issue, but since then, over 400 immigrants, refugees, asylumseekers and those viewed as outsiders have been killed in similar events. The 2015 xenophobic attacks are a fresh reminder of antiimmigrant senti ments in south africa.
We first examine some existing academic explanations for xenophobia, namely internalised. Impact of xenophobic attacks on south african tourism. Jul 01, 2016 the 2015 xenophobic attacks are a fresh reminder of antiimmigrant sentiments in south africa. African migrants, xenophobia and urban violence in post. The drivers of xenophobic violence in south africa are inevitably multiple and embedded in a complex interplay of the countrys past and present structural political, social and economic factors. A minority of the south african adult population reported that they had participated in this form of antiimmigrant aggression.
The country is a major destination for economic migrants from neighboring lesotho, mozambique and zimbabwe. Xenophobic violence in south africa exposes unresolved. The share of the general public who admitted engaging in violence. Small, isolated incidents occurred in south africa s cities between 2008 and 2015, but this is the first time durban has seen violence and fear on this scale, said imtiaz sooliman, chairman and. Mar 10, 2017 recurrence of xenophobic attacks in south africa. Xenophobic violence and struggle discourse in south africa. Understanding the causes and the nature of xenophobia in. Locals standing and watching helplessly, or, worse, encouraging the perpetrators. Explanations for this violence have historical roots in the armed. Observers say migrants are being used as scapegoats in the latest wave of violent attacks. A group of eminent global leaders called the elders claim xenophobia may erupt in south africa after the fifa 2010 world cup as jobs become more scarce. Xenophobia in south africa a brief summary by alice. Debate, discourse, and everyday experience in cape town, south africa, africa today 56, 3 2010, pp. Xenophobia in south africa a brief summary by alice wamundiya.
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