According to Merriam Webster’s dictionary, xenophobia is the “fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners.” An Article on the United Nations’ Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) – which was titled, Learning to Live Together – further explains xenophobia to be behaviour based on existing racist, ethnic, religious, cultural, or national prejudice.
With reference to the two explanations, the origins of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa can be drawn from the moment the South Africans began to adapt the apartheid experiences – seeing themselves as a different people altogether. South Africans, to the present day, have had a misconception of all the other African countries with particular reference to Zimbabwe and Mozambique their neighbouring countries to whom they have become so estranged because of the prevailing economic challenges in these countries. The hatred and savagery attacks on fellow Africans by South African citizens clearly points to the absence of pan-African spirit in South Africa.
Despite being so developed and more economically stable than many other African countries, South Africans cannot be regarded as more or less Africans. Their infrastructure does not justify their continuous outrage and attacks on other African migrants, who flock to Pretoria and Johannesburg in search of greener pastures. In 2008 and 2015, South Africans took to the streets violently attacking and murdering many foreigners. They claim foreigners, particularly Nigerians, are bringing in drugs, promoting high rise in prostitution, robberies, theft and lawlessness. But what becomes the role of the Police Force if the citizens always have to go after the so called “foreign criminals”?
Developing a pan-African spirit becomes important. Until South Africans begin to see themselves as one with other African nations, it would be somewhat difficult to separate them from their xenophobic nature. South Africans should come to terms with the fact that despite the problems that some foreigners may rightly be promoting wrong morals, there are many others who have very honest intentions. Remarkably, some foreign traders have also positively contributed to the economy of South Africa, and if truth must be told and introspection done, then South Africans would realise that there is no need for hatred and malicious attacks because we are not strangers nor enemies – but Africans united by common heritage.
Isaiah Chari is an Executive of the Young African Leaders Forum (YALF), Zimbabwe. He writes from Harare