Xenophobic attacks in south africa are not exclusively a recent phenomenon7. Although there are no appropriate records, the south african bigotry. Causes and effects of xenophobia, the strange fear of strangers. Sixtytwo foreign migrants lost their lives and more than 200,000 were displaced during xenophobic attacks in south africa 10 years ago. Causes and effects of xenophobia, the strange fear of. Citizen attitudes to immigration and refugee policy in southern africa pdf. In may 2008, a series of attacks left 62 people dead. With the campaigning for the 2019 national elections gripping south african politics, all kinds of xenophobic statements are uttered by most political parties who see antiimmigrant, xenophobic. Xenophobia in south africa causes, attacks and history. Xenophobia in south africa a brief summary by alice. With south africa, there is always an issue to contend with. 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. Potential visitors to south africa are raising questions about safety. Addressing violence against foreign nationals in south africa.
According to a 2004 study published by the southern african migration project samp. It goes without saying that the community will be looked down upon by others and on a global platform as well. What is driving xenophobic violence in south africa. 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. Towards understanding of violence against african immigrants in south africa, african insight, vol. South africa vows crackdown on xenophobic attacks after. Durban point area on edge some foreign nationals say theyre armed in anticipation of further attacks and are prepared to fight. The south african government has a national action plan to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Due to longstanding patterns of labour migration, conflict and economic hardship in neighbouring countries, south africa has become a primary destination and transit point for many migrants throughout the region and the numbers are likely to increase in the coming. 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. Suspected fresh xenophobic attacks in south africa have resurfaced in some parts of limpopo province and durban in kwazulu natal, leaving three people dead and several houses burnt to ashes. Three people killed in south africa xenophobia attacks. After majority rule in 1994, contrary to expectations, the incidence of xenophobia increased. Xenophobia in south africa is a phenomenon synonymous with violence and hatred towards foreigners.
Prior to 1994, immigrants from elsewhere faced discrimination and even violence in south. Understanding the causes and the nature of xenophobia in. Some people complain about foreigners working in south africa where unemployment is painfully high. South africa launches plan to combat xenophobia and racism. How south africa xenophobia attacks on africans are driven. What caused the xenophobic attacks in south africa.
Police in south africa have been overwhelmed by looters in the latest round of xenophobic attacks by residents of jappestown, an area close to commercial hub, johannesburg. The attacks stimulated a range of pronouncements and accounts from political and. Xenophobia, xenophobic attack, may 2008, south africa. For the somalis in south africa who have suffered back home, for the youngsters whose education was disrupted, and who now face persecution in south africa, it is like being caught between two hells. South africa sends army to stop xenophobic attacks defence minister nosiviwe mapisanqakula says soldiers will be deployed in volatile areas where attacks on immigrants have killed seven.
So in comparison, south africa has one of the bestwritten constitutions but implementation is always a problem. The map that follows shows the geographical location of the country in relation to the. 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. This is an unfortunate but entirely unsurprising way to mark the anniversary of the 2008 xenophobic attacks during which tens of thousands were displaced and more than 60 people killed. The unhcr rosa staff and their south african partners who implemented the. 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. A man reacts to tear gas fired by police fire to disperse rival marches by hundreds of protesters, after mobs looted stores this week believed to belong to immigrants in pretoria, south africa. The south african authorities hoped that it would generate nearly r500 billion a year by end of 2020 and create some 225,000 new jobs. Up to 10 people were killed in violent protests at the start of this month. Xenophobic attacks of nigerians in south africa vanguard. Here, well check out the causes and negative effects of xenophobia. An analysis of the causes, effects and ramifications of. This is the third day in a row that south africa has succumb to xenophobic. Prior to 1994, immigrants from elsewhere faced discrimination and even violence in south africa.
Recent attacks on foreigners appear more orchestrated than previous outbreaks. In achieving this, data was collated using a 12 item questionnaire titled impact of xenophobia on nigerian. Several people, both foreign and south african alike, were killed with some of the killings captured on camera. Bronwyn harris is a former project manager at the centre for the study of violence and reconciliation. Foreign nationals have, yet again, been attacked, displaced and had their shops looted in south africa. The assessment of these ngos is that xenophobic violence in south africa can be clearly distinguished from common crime such as theft and assault.
But the recent xenophobic attacks on african immigrants has tarnished the image of south africa and has seriously affected its tourism industry. Johannesburg the past few weeks in south africa have been deadly. Violence against foreigners is not new to south africa, but this weeks scenes were reminiscent of the countrywide xenophobic violence of 2008 that brought the. Explanations for this violence have historical roots in the armed. Anger in nigeria as south africa xenophobic attacks spark looting. Xenophobic violence erupts in south africa human rights. 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.
It is also necessary to map the 2008 violence against the state of social cohesion in. Citizens have turned on immigrants and other outsiders in a bout of violence and political theater that has killed at. Revisiting the may 2008 xenophobic attacks in south africa. Impact of xenophobic attacks on south african tourism. On 11 april 2015, several south africans attacked foreigners in a xenophobic attack in durban, south africa, which extended to some parts of johannesburg. This sentiment reached its tipping point in urban areas across the republic of south africa in may 2008 when mass, widespread and systematic attacks against. Protesters at the street in johannesburg, south africa. From apartheid to democracy and now its xenophobic attacks. 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 when they result in violent outbreaks.
Since south africa s transition to democracy, the country has observed thousands of events of xenophobic violence. South african police disperse protesters holding bottles, machetes and axes in johannesburgs central business district. Renewed xenophobic attack in johannesburg, south africa. Xenophobia and party politics in south africa the mail. Xenophobia has an adverse effect on the society as well as economy of a region.
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. Despite a lack of directly comparable data, xenophobia in south africa is perceived to have significantly increased after the election of a black majority government in 1994. African diaspora forum adf, a panafrican ngo founded in 2008, works to integrate foreigners into south african society. The geography of xenophobia in southern africa the negative attitudes of south africans towards noncitizens, migrants. What the xenophobic violence gripping south africa means.
Governmentcommissioned report says media houses played a role in the deadly 2015 xenophobic attacks in kwazulunatal. South africa has temporarily closed its diplomatic missions in lagos and abuja, nigeria, fearing reprisal attacks against its citizens, following a spate of antiforeigner attacks in the country. As reflected above and illustrated in the map below figure 2, gauteng. What is behind south africas xenophobic attacks on. Xenophobic attacks spark south african response bbc news. Between 2000 and march 2008, at least 67 people died in what were identified as xenophobic attacks. South africa has launched its national action plan to combat xenophobia, racism, and discrimination, marking an important step towards addressing the. South africa has been hit by an outbreak of attacks on migrants from other african countries as the nation prepared to host a meeting of political.
South africa police struggling amid latest xenophobic attacks. This paper thus, is informed by the rise in the attacks on nigerians in south africa and takes a critical analysis of the impact of xenophobia on nigeria students in south africa. It has already been reported that one person caught up in the. The experience of xenophobia in south africa article pdf available in american journal of orthopsychiatry 811. Pdf there is a growing realization that racism, xenophobia and intolerance are the root. A reflection on south african xenophobic attack on nigerian. The paper reveals that the attacks on nigerians and other foreigners especially africans might not be unconnected with the rising wave of crime and criminality in south africa attributed to foreigners, the. In the wake of the recent xenophobic attacks in south africa, this informative research paper revisits the antiforeigner violence in the rainbow nation to the end of pointing out the impact on.
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