South Africa: Is xenophobic South Africa ready for 2010?

Bomseh, a Kenya blogger in South Africa, asks, “Is xenophobic South Africa ready for 2010?”: “It is therefore with much shock and disbelief that I watched unfolding events on the news last night about the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in Johannesburg and neighbouring towns within the province of Gauteng. The hate crimes, similar to what we experienced in Kenya not long ago is reportedly spreading like bushfire and as at the moment, slightly less than 100 foreigners have been killed, hundreds more injured in the fracas and many more displaced.”

5 comments

  • Mukwepa

    “Let our brothers recall the history of their country, which every 15 years old girl and boy knows and remembers. The neighbors have been there during all those years of struggle against apartheid. Our villages, towns and bridges have been destroyed in the past because we (the neighbors) truly and courageously helped, hosted our brothers, South Africans. But today, they’ve turned their backs and forgot all we (neighbors) did for them. Today, they are killing us because we are knocking their doors asking for food. Let God be the judge between South Africans and those killed and suffering. What is taking place right now is an anti-historical and “non grata” attitude from our brothers. Let them be ashamed and remember, “What goes around, comes around.”

  • Ndesanjo, I don’t know how South Africans will ever be able to hold their heads up again on this continent. The saddest part is that even among the so-called educated, there are those rejoicing and imagining that this means more opportunities for them. Africans MUST be taught that destabilizing actions DO NOT create more opportunities, they simply cause capital flight. But I suppose, like in Kenya, many feel that it’s better if we’re all poor.

  • Phuthela

    I think the attacks are largely driven by gross misconceptions about people from other African countries – perhaps the media plays a role in this regard. Most South Africans are not aware of the beauty and richness of this continent and its untold history. I mean, the only thing that you hear about regarding other African countries is usually about war, famine and just about every bad thing you can think of. It’s just so silly that we’ve become so divided based on superficial borders imposed by colonialism whereas when reflecting on history – the one most of us are not aware of – you find that we share a common ancestry, of course not just biologically but culturally. I’m South African and really, I AM ASHAMED about what’s happening and also frustrated because the actions of a couple of individuals does not represent who I am as an individual. My apologies go out to all my brothers and sisters of the continent and hope that we can learn from this and overcome these turbulent times.

  • inajame

    the south africans should realy be ashamed of themselves,we the neighbours stood by them during the apartheid era,they fled into our countries and we also prayed for south africa to be an apartheid free era and now they are treating us like dogs,beating and killing us which is really inhumane

  • Mark

    I don’t believe they are ready Bomseh. I want to say WE are not ready, being a South African myself, but I fail to identify with this country anymore and would rather distance myself from it.

    Rista mentioned flight, which is the route I am taking. Like many of my countrymen, I am waiting for my permanent residence visa from the Australian DIAC and will be heading for the civilised world.

    It’s such a pity that the promise of the rainbow nation has not come to fruition. Is “Ubuntu” just a myth?

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