Indeed by belying and excluding xenophobia, the new south africa discourse is able to define itself as peaceful and tolerant. South africas bouts of xenophobia fly in the face of competing efforts to increase unity across the continent. Mar 02, 2017 a senior au official told iss today then that if south africa refused entry to albashir, that coming on top of the xenophobia would wreck its relations with africa. This study attempts to insert xenophobia in this debate on migration and development by examining the growth of this phenomenon in host countries in the south. African migrants, xenophobia and urban violence in post. With south africa, there is always an issue to contend with. Reporting on xenophobia in south africa carien jay. In south africa, violence follows a surge in xenophobia the. Several people, both foreign and south african alike, were killed with some of the killings captured on camera. Xenophobic violence in cities is a phenomenon that deserves policy attention and direct intervention by central government, local authorities and community leaders. Antixenophobia walk on mandela day 2010, cape town. On 11 april 2015, several south africans attacked foreigners in a xenophobic attack in durban, south africa, which extended to some parts of johannesburg. Exploring the discursive nuances of the south african.
The african union last year proposed an african passport that would allow. Xenophobic killing in south africa caught by photos cnn. Xenophobia in south africa and nigeria by omano edigheji. T hey came to south africa in search of a better life and, for a while, found the promised land. Apr 17, 2015 t hey came to south africa in search of a better life and, for a while, found the promised land. Sep 19, 2018 i found this definition for xenophobia online.
South africa only began to abide formally by international refugee law after signing a basic agreement with united nations high commissioner for refugees unhcr in 1993. South african xenophobia has national and regional political consequences. Fungai chopo got work as a builder, his wife, memory, was hired as a maid, and they shared a decent. Due to growing xenophobia, foreign workers are also held directly responsible by some south africans for 27% unemployment, undercutting local small businesses and an opioid epidemic. Manifestations of xenophobia are usually triggered by intense dislike or hatred against. Jan 31, 2017 since south africas transition to democracy, the country has observed thousands of events of xenophobic violence. South africa leaders took notice after james oatway caught the horror in a wave of violence. Xenophobia, urban violence, multiculturalism, migrants, south africa. South africa judith hayem a a clersecnrs, universite lille 1 version of record first published.
Violent xenophobia has become a regular feature of south african life. South africa has the potential to achieve regional hegemony in africa, but in order to do so it must address phenomena such as xenophobia, which imposes severe limitations on. Attacks did not disappear with 2008 attacks incidents of xenophobic and xenophobicrelated violence continue to be reported in south africa. Their findings have been broadly similar, focussing. South africas cities, which in many ways are still struggling to erase the imprint of apartheid.
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 hatred of foreigners or strangers. Xenophobia is a form of violence and violence is the norm in south africa. This chapter attempts to deconstruct such a representation by suggesting that xenophobia is implicit to the technologies of nationbuilding and is part of south africa s culture of violence. Addressing social cohesion and xenophobia in south africa. In south africa, there is a sentiment prevalent among. Some, like michael neocosmos, director of global movements research at the university of south africa unisa, recall antimigrant sentiment in the early nineties, when the new government was in the midst of planning new economic policies and politicians of all stripes began drumming up antiimmigrant. In south africa, violence follows a surge in xenophobia. Since south africas transition to democracy, the country has observed thousands of events of xenophobic violence. Although the term xenophobia may conjure up images of the violent attacks against foreigners in may 2008, migrant women in south africa have been. In order to tackle xenophobia, we therefore also need to move beyond explanations that are located at the level of the. In many ways, these everyday experiences represent a microcosm of the politics of citizenship and belonging in south africa.
The targets are makwerekweres, a derogatory term used for foreigners, in reference to the babble they speak. The chapter will provide a brief history and critique of the ways in which xenophobia has been understood in south africa. Meanwhile, in the rest of africa, south africa is widely seen as an alternative destination to europe by economic refugees. 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. Understanding the causes and the nature of xenophobia in. Xenophobia in south africa causes, attacks and history. While it is difficult to put a rand value of how much xenophobia is damaging south africa the brand, there is no doubt that there is a real. South africa has had several incidents of xenophobic attacks during the last two decades. What causes the rise of xenophobia in south africa. Black lives dont matter in xenophobic south africa the. Fungai chopo got work as a builder, his wife, memory, was hired as a. The proportion of south africas total population that is foreign born increased from 2.
Mar 10, 2017 recurrence of xenophobic attacks in south africa. Equally, the growing xenophobia in the country is profoundly characterized by racism and a high degree of violence. Mtn is not the only south african brand that could be adversely affected by the wake of the xenophobic protests. Before 1994, foreigners faced violence and discrimination especially from the. Ten years after xenophobic killings, refugees and migrants still living in. Violence is an integral part of the social fabric, even although the new south african discourse belies this.
This case was chosen because it is an example of a xenophobic incident. Mar 04, 2018 due to growing xenophobia, foreign workers are also held directly responsible by some south africans for 27% unemployment, undercutting local small businesses and an opioid epidemic. A retrospective study of the effects of xenophobia on south. Branford w and thompson d 1994 south african pocket oxford dictionary of current english. The fourth part narrows the discussion to specific case study analysis of xenophobic attacks on nigerians in south africa. This depicts the pull factors exerted from south africa. Ingrid palmary is a former researcher in the city safety project at the centre. The term xenophobia comes from the greek words xenos, meaning foreigner, stranger, and phobos, meaning fear. Apr 20, 2015 south africa leaders took notice after james oatway caught the horror in a wave of violence. From apartheid to democracy and now its xenophobia. 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. Debate, discourse, and everyday experience in cape town, south africa, africa today 56, 3 2010, pp. This made south africa the largest recipient of immigrants on the african continent in 2019.
South africa became a party to the organization of african unity oau and united nations. 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. The chapter revealed that while xenophobic experiences in nigeria during the 1980s was fuelled by the economic crisis that plagued the oilrich country due to the collapse in oil prices in the. Xenophobic attacks not a new phenomenon in south africa started even before may 2008 attacks that rocked the nation and the international community. In south africa, there is a sentiment prevalent among a sizable portion of unemployed south africans that immigrants and expatriates from other parts of africa who reside in south africa are responsible for the high unemployment rate that south africa has. 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. Since south africa s transition to democracy, the country has observed thousands of events of xenophobic violence. Jul 01, 2016 south africa has the potential to achieve regional hegemony in africa, but in order to do so it must address phenomena such as xenophobia, which imposes severe limitations on its credibility and. Egypt located at the crossroads of africa and the arab world, nigeria, the most populous state of the continent, and south africa, which is the only developed. Ingrid palmary is a former researcher in the city safety project at the centre for the study of violence and reconciliation. The content and causes of xenophobia a limited number of qualitative studies have focussed on the xenophobic experience from its victims and sought to understand foreigners2 perceptions and understandings of xenophobia and life in south africa. A retrospective study of the effects of xenophobia on. Emily bridger history department, university of exeter over the past several weeks, a new wave of xenophobic violence has swept across south africa, beginning in durban and quickly spreading to johannesburg and its surrounding townships.
Xenophobia is a broad notion, associated with a variety of meanings. Xenophobia against people of other religions and ethnicities in nigeria is as inhumane as xenophobia abroad against socalled foreigners in south africa and elsewhere. South africa is seen as a country with economic opportunity and promise, and has attracted millions of displaced people from africa. Apr 20, 2015 south africas unemployment data shows that 26. This chapter examines the context of xenophobia in nigeria and that of south africa and assesses the attendant implications for panafricanism. 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. Apartheid is one dark era in the history of south africa that the country should be eternally grateful to nigeria for her role in bringing the era to an end at the time it did. In a clash between the poorest of the poor, gangs of local black south. A retrospective study of the effects of xenophobia on south africa nigeria relations oluyemi fayomi, felix chidozie, charles ayo.
A retrospective study of the effects of xenophobia on south africanigeria relations oluyemi fayomi, felix chidozie, charles ayo. This study seeks to understand the causes and nature of xenophobia in south africa. Since the 2008 xenophobic violence in the country, there has been a growing literature on xenophobia. A senior au official told iss today then that if south africa refused entry to albashir, that coming on top of the xenophobia would wreck its relations with africa. Mar 03, 2017 big debate south africa 17,736 views 47. Xenophobia in south africa jesuit refugee service australia. Last month, during two weeks in may, 2008, a series of attacks took place all over south africa. Variation of magnetic elements with latitude and with longitude. The gendered nature of xenophobia in south africa the web site. The 2015 xenophobic attacks are a fresh reminder of antiimmigrant sentiments in south africa. Taking the whole coverage of events into account it is fair to state that the dominant discourse or myth represented in the xenophobic violence coverage is south africa has returned to the ways of the antiapartheid struggle which set the townships on fire in the 1980ies this includes all kinds of discourses such as this is the. Violence, crime and xenophobia during south africas transition, violence and transition series, vol.
The impact of xenophobic attacks on south african brands. In many ways, these everyday experiences represent a microcosm of the politics of citizenship and belonging in s outh africa. It provides short accounts of xenophobia witnessed in recent times in five countries including south africa, india, malaysia, libya, and thailand. Its not unique to south africa, and is based usually on ignorance and intolerance for people who are different t.
Nov 14, 2017 this chapter examines the context of xenophobia in nigeria and that of south africa and assesses the attendant implications for panafricanism. Oct 05, 2019 with south africa, there is always an issue to contend with. South african attitudes to the violence of may 2008 21. Xenophobic violence and national subjectivity in south africa, journal of southern african studies, 39. Bronwyn harris is a former project manager at the centre for the study of violence and reconciliation. Feb 26, 2017 xenophobia against people of other religions and ethnicities in nigeria is as inhumane as xenophobia abroad against socalled foreigners in south africa and elsewhere. Post apartheid south africa symbolises freedom and prosperity, a safe haven from war, a sanctuary away from poverty.
South african institute for aquatic biodiversity, pbag 1015, grahamstown. Black lives dont matter in xenophobic south africa foreign nationals and members of various south african civil society groups take part in an. Xenophobia, international migration and human development. Values of declination at intersections of degrees of latitude and of longitude. Xenophobia amounts to violent harassment of immigrants from other countries in africa, killing. The last section concludes the work and proffers relevant policy recommendations.
South africa became a party to the organization of african unity oau and united nations u. Though not supported by data, these attacks are thought to have substantially grown in frequency after the democratic government came to power in 1994 after the end of the apartheid era. Shoprite, a leading retailer in south africa has about 7 stores in nigeria compared to the 600 store in south africa. The role of local government by ingrid palmary research report written for the centre for the study of violence and reconciliation.
The experience of xenophobia in south africa article pdf available in american journal of orthopsychiatry 811. May 28, 20 and while xenophobia is a destructive and reactionary force wherever it is found in france, in indonesia and in india as in south africa, the 2006 xenophobia survey found the extent of. This sentiment sometimes results in such south africans attacking african expatriates and foreigners, as happened in 2008, with. Xenophobia toward refugees and other forced migrants reliefweb. The proportion of south africa s total population that is foreign born increased from 2. Xenophobia attacks of nigerians in south africa vanguard. In 20, mtn nigeria reported more profits than mtn south africa. The reoccurrence of these attacks has raised concerns in many quarters as to whether the government has done enough to stop the attacks. Refugees, safety and xenophobia in south african cities. While many have traced the rise of xenophobia in south africa to the post apartheid era, the. Xenophobia in south africa prior to 1994, immigrants to south africa would face violence and discrimination, with the practice of apartheid being a major social barrier to nonwhite south africans. And while xenophobia is a destructive and reactionary force wherever it is found in france, in indonesia and in india as in south africa, the 2006 xenophobia survey found the extent of.
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