Xenophobia - the fear of foreigners - has been bottled up and building up pressure in this country for quite some time. Tragically, it has erupted into uncontrolled violence in the Johannesburg area over the past three or four nights, shattering the lives of already-battered Zimbabwean nationals.
By this morning's count, five people had already lost their lives, with another 50 injured. It started in Alexandra, very near to where I live, and has spread to the rest of the city. Mobs of people, reportedly mainly Zulus, target Zimbabwe nationals, beat them up, steal their belongings and set fire to their shacks. Zimbabweans are fleeing in terror and seeking shelter in police stations.
Shortages of jobs in this country have resulted in a huge influx of South Africans to the Johannesburg vicinity - the so-called "rich" area - in search of work. However, about a third of the population in this area is now unemployed. (I know that first hand - I've been searching for employment for over a year now.)
Therefore, when Zimbabweans flock across the border to this country to escape the abject poverty and brutality in their own country and to seek a livelihood here, a section of the local population resents them for the added burden they place on the local job market, be it in the formal or in the informal sector.
One can understand the fears and resentment of the locals - too many of whom cannot put food on the table - but for anyone who knows the reality of Zimbabwe, one must cry for the Zimbabwean people.
The question burning inside me is: Why is that (in my opinion) menace to humanity, Robert Mugabe, allowed to terrorize the Zimbabwe electorate ahead of a presidential run-off, when he should be in The Hague answering charges of crimes against humanity? And how can the South African President still maintain that it is an internal Zimbabwean affair? I'm not sure what Mbeki is doing about the Zimbabwe crisis, but that which is apparent to me prompts me to think of that old saying: "If you're going to lead, lead. If you're going to follow, follow. If you're not going to do either, then get out of the way."
4 comments:
Oh! My God,
I have never heard od this type of incidents in my life so far though only have leant that Xenophobia means fear of foreigners.
Today, before reading your article in one local paper I have read about this and get surprised. This is totally anti-humanity bahaviour. Here for me it is no necessary to know the exact reasons why Zimbabweans were beaten since any such kind of act is always not good.
I hope concerned parties will soon help those Zimbabweans and their life who are there in foreign land to earn something to live and let their family live.
This situation highlights not only the problems within Zimbabwe but also the economic situation within South Africa itself. A hungry man is a desperate man, he will react violently towards anyone he sees as a threat to his family or himself. We can just hope the politicians stop discussing the situation and start doing something constructive about it. Nice article.
Thanks, Sailor. I agree with you entirely. We have a lot of desperate people trying to survive at any cost, while government talks.
Just an update for readers - by yesterday evening the death toll had risen to 22, with hundreds injured and thousands displaced. The displaced are seeking shelter in churches and police stations. Charity organizations are doing their best to cope, with their resources coming under severe pressure.
Reports last night indicated that some of those targeted are deciding to make a stand and fight back.
how soon the native black South Africans have forgotten their freedom fighters were hosted in the surrounding neighboring countries.This kind of attitude a shame's us as a continent and is the source of great poverty despite Africa being full of mineral,economic,human and other resources!Shame on us
Post a Comment