Xenophobia attacks - Ways to stay safe!

We are once again faced with xenophobia threats particularly in Pretoria and some parts of Johannesburg. We have seen the looting of shops belonging to foreign nationals in Mamelodi and other areas. As always, some South Africans in townships and informal settlements are blaming foreign nationals from taking their jobs. In turn, some foreign nationals are accusing South Africans of been xenophobic.

I have never believed that South Africans are xenophobic. I might be one of those foreign nationals who are privileged in that, l speak IsiNdebele which is basically Zulu. At school in Zimbabwe l studied Uhlelo LwesiZulu, Zulu literature Inkisela Yasemgungundlovu by Sibusiso Nyembezi and other Zulu literature books. This has made it easy for me to integrate within the South African society. When am with the Zulu speaking, they normally think am from KwaNdebele in Mpumalanga ,( except the MK cadres who lived with ZIPRA cadres will pick up my accent). When am with the Xhosa, Venda and so on, they think am Zulu. So how can you stay safe under the xenophobic threats? These are some of the ways/tips that might help you;

1. Speak the local language: avoid speaking English in communities, master the local language. Speaking a local language identifies you with locals. Two weeks back , we were with the ANC comrades in Springs for a braai, when Cde Minenhle Nyathi told them that she is from Zimbabwe, they never believed her. They thought she is local. I know that some of my Shona speaking comrades have outrightly refused to learn IsiNdebele back home due to the tribal nature of our society. My dear Shona comrade, please learn the language fast. Avoid speaking in English in townships , you become an easy target. You can learn an other language if you are not comfortable with IsiZulu.

2. Join a trade union: A trade union provides a platform for workers to engage in a struggle against the capitalist system. A worker who is not a member of a trade union is viewed as a sellout by other workers. If you are not a member of a union, a migrant, you become an easy target in the event of a xenophobia outbreak. Please contact me if you need more information on how to join a trade union. An undocumented and a documented migrant has a right to join a trade union.

3. Do not hang out with criminals - the argument by the local community is that, Zimbabweans are involved in armed robberies, shoplifting, house robberies. Avoid buying stolen property, stay away from criminal activities. Join the local policing forum in your community.

4. Know your neighbour - Be a good neighbour, attend funerals, weddings, birthday parties in your community. When you are hosting a braii in your house, invite your South African neighbours. When xenophobia attacks happen, your neighbour will protect you. Never isolate yourself in your community. When you are driving daily to work, form a lift club and ask your neighbour to contribute to your fuel , this will assist in the building of a strong relationship with your neighbour.

5. Never portray yourself as more educated than your South African neighbours - they will say, "lo uyazitshela", when xenophobia happens, you will be the first target.

6. Avoid impregnating locals girls and dump them - if you are an adult and married, avoid extra marital affairs with school going young girls in your community. If you are female and not married, avoid snatching other peoples husbands in the community.

7. If you are a christian, join the local church or invite your neighbour to your church and hold Bible studies in your or your neighbours house.

8. Join the local political branch , if you are interested in politics. Avoid wearing of an ANC T-shirt in an EFF stronghold or the EFF t- shirt in an ANC stronghold.

Compiled by: Cde Ngqabutho Nicholas Mabhena

Email - ngqabuthomabhena@gmail.com
WhatsApp - +27 83 340 1000.