Xenophobia on the rise in South Africa

Xenophobia according to the Oxford English Dictionary is a deep-rooted, irrational hatred towards foreigners. Xenophobia may be directed against recent immigrants or even a group that have existed for a long time or became part of the society through conquest and territorial expansion. Such forms of Xenophobia can enhance hostile and violent reactions as we have witnessed in South Africa recently. Xenophobia may be caused by physical, emotional or economic negative experience with a particular group of people. In South Africa, Xenophobia could be attributed to economic negative experience with individuals with roots in Somalia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and even Nigeria.

If we would recall, this is not the first record of Xenophobia in South Africa. The 2008 xenophobia attacks in this same country left about 62 people dead. Reports have it that migrants, most especially from other African states and Asia, have moved to South Africa in large numbers since white-minority rule ended in 1994. Official data in fact suggest that there are about 2 million foreign nationals in South Africa, which is about 4% of the total population. This have created displeasure in the minds of many South Africans who accuse them of taking jobs in a country where the unemployment rate is 24%.

The situation is becoming an alarming one and if not addressed could worsen, as crowd began looting foreign-owned shops in east Johannesburg on Thursday night in which about 200 foreigners took refuge at a police station. More than 2,000 foreigners have already sought shelter in refugee camps in Durban on Wednesday.  In an attempt to curtail the situation, many notable South Africans including the acting premier of Gauteng province around Johannesburg, Qedari Mahlangu have condemned the attack. South African president, Jacob Zuma on Thursday condemned the attacks as 'shocking'. In his words, he said, no amount of frustration or anger can justify the attacks on foreign nationals and the looting of their shops. Pope Francis also spoke on the issue urging the South African government to do more to tackle the increasing number of migrants. Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe also condemned the attack on his nationals. 

There have been media speculations that the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini have been been behind fueling the attacks by saying that foreigners should 'go back to their homes'. However, he said that his comment had been distorted. Six deaths have been recorded already, so whoever fueled the crisis is not what is important as this juncture but how to quickly bring the situation under control. Permit me to put it this way 'xenophobia could be contagious, spreading like wild fire'. Although, many South Africans are against the violence, but are unhappy with the level of immigration and feel they are being undercut by immigrants from poorer countries. Unhappiness is always a first step, followed by sharing in xenophobic ideologies, which then metamorphose into violent expression of the unhappiness. Let me also say that it is not just xenophobia that is there to contend with but other vices such as rape, murder, robbery and theft that comes along.

What we don't want to see is a fierce battle or war between the majority South African citizens and minority immigrants or foreigners. So, I think the South African government apart from condemning the xenophobia attacks in its strongest terms, should also take drastic steps to prevent the widespread of the crisis and also address the issues already tabled by the citizens. For me, I don't see why the citizens should go on attacking immigrants that are coming to do business rather than attack its government for its failure to cater for their needs. Moreover, these foreigners through their businesses are contributing to the economy.

What bothers me presently is that Nigerians living in South Africa are also affected by this rise in Xenophobia and the Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa have said that it is not yet time to evacuate Nigerians. However, the situation is still being watched around the world to see how the South African government would deal with it and quickly put an end to it. My big question is that, should Nigerian nationals be evacuated or not and if they should, at what time or period should they be evacuated?