Opinion / Columnist
Xenophobia retards progress
17 Apr 2015 at 12:45hrs | Views
The outbreak of anti-immigrant violence in South Africa recently has prompted a set of theoretical questions and reappraisals of theoretical suppositions. What is termed as xenophobia is exclusion practiced by people of the same race, which has characterised post apartheid South African black social relations.
The looting of foreign-owned shops in Soweto, South Africa indicates that the country needs robust economic empowerment policies that benefit the black majority. It is real that the actions by black South Africans posed and is continuing posing a big threat to African unity.
The recent incident has raised fears of the return of the xenophobic attacks in the same country where more than 63 foreigners were killed, while thousands others were displaced during similar attacks in 2008. The latest looting is an indication that the majority of blacks are in need of economic empowerment.
The looting is all about social exclusion of blacks in the economic matrix of South Africa. At the end, the locals in that country target immigrants whom they perceive as taking away economic opportunities. They have to borrow from Zimbabwe's policy of indigenisation. If we give an analysis of the looting we would be tempted to think that the shooting and looting will recur unless there is a robust policy in terms of black empowerment.
It is prudent that there is need to address the African National Congress struggle thrust, that is, empowering blacks. That is why Julius Malema is becoming popular. Even President Jacob Zuma has seen the light on land reform and noticed that the willing buyer willing seller policy on land does not work. The economy is skewed in favour of the minority whites and there is simmering tensions on the part of blacks.
This has manifested itself in the formation of the Economic Freedom Fighters. The shooting, that triggered the looting, has also provoked tensions that have been lying low. Black people, in turn, direct their energies at fellow Africans and other foreigners. The South Africans feel that their economic space has been invaded by foreigners. It is a reality that economic refugees in that country run businesses that take the space of locals.
South African blacks believe that their opportunities are being taken away by people who do not belong there. We might feel that the South Africans are being unfair, but it remains a fact that an empowerment programme is needed for the less privileged in that country. The black South Africans need to have entrepreneurial skills in order for them to be empowered.
For Pan Africanism and unity to prevail we should seek to understand the shameful saga of the xenophobic looting of shops owned by foreign nationals and the violence that followed. We should shun away xenophobia as it retards development.
Source - Stewart Murewa
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