THE citizens of South Africa, whose country only became independent in 1994, appear to be forgetting too easily.
Most nations in the region and beyond helped their liberation efforts significantly and ill-treating foreign nationals should be the last thing they should do.
Rewind to May 14, 1987. A booby-trapped TV exploded in a Harare city apartment, killing Tsitsi Chiliza, who was the wife of South African cadre Vusumuzi Masondo. Chiliza was also sister to one of Zimbabwe’s renowned writers, Dambudzo Marechera. The tragedy shook Zimbabwe’s capital, and was one of many acts of destabilisation attacks carried out on countries that hosted African National Congress or Pan-African Congress officials.
Similar attacks were carried out in other southern African countries suspected of having bases with cadres from the two movements.
These acts remind those foreigners who are being stripped of dignity and livelihoods inside South Africa of the saying “biting the hand that feeds you”.
Soon after gaining Independence in 1994, South Africans turned against foreigners, blaming them for crime, unemployment and sexual attacks.
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Foreign nationals targeted in in series of attacks inside South Africa include Mozambicans, Zimbabweans, Nigerians, Somalis and Congolese among many others.
Economic meltdown in some countries such as Zimbabwe and civil war in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo is largely responsible for pushing many foreigners from their mother countries to South Africa.
In 2008, 62 people were reportedly killed in xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Wave of subsequent attacks have been responsible for the deaths of scores of foreign nationals since 2008.
What is worrying is the inaction of the south African government and the silence of the African Union as these attacks on foreigners continue. Why the help of specialised organisations such as the International Organisation for Migration is not enlisted is everybody’s wonder. They are qualified to handle such situations.
To make matters worse, some of the attacks, for instance, the April 2015 upsurge in attacks that began in Durban and spread to Johannesburg, were aggravated after Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini ordered foreigners to “go back to their countries”.
When top officials in South Africa seem to support the attacks, even law enforcement finds itself powerless. The attacks are being carried out by Africans who are abusing the freedom they got in 1994 after hibernating in the very countries whose citizens they are attacking. What could have become of South Africa had Mozambique not sacrificed to host liberation fighters who were fighting the apartheid regime in that country? South Africa actually ended up sponsoring the rebel Renamo movement to ensure Mozambique had enough problems at home to play host to those seeking refuge.
The death of former Mozambican president Samora Machel on October 19, 1986 while returning from a Frontline summit in Lusaka, Zambia is alleged to have been linked to his support for the liberation movements in South Africa.
Against this background one is tempted to think South Africans are very quick to forget as a people. Even then, would killing or violence against their neighbours solve their concerns.
Currently, South Africa faces both a diplomatic and domestic crisis with the new wave of anti-immigrant protests that are taking place across the country. Nigeria and Ghana have already moved to evacuate their citizens with the latter having approved the repatriation of 300 nationals, while Nigeria plans to take at least 130 people back home.
Other countries such as Kenya, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, have issued urgent safety advisories to their citizens resident in South Africa as protests escalate in Durban, Johannesburg, and Pretoria.
After all this has been said and done, one thing remains: the affected people’s countries must put their houses in order. Sort out their political and economic problems. Their citizens will not continue trekking to South Africa.
South Africa reportedly has over two million migrants, some of whom are not documented. The majority of them are believed to be from Zimbabwe, where they are running away from an economic meltdown that has continued to worsen over decades.
There is no production as most factories have closed, citing a difficult operating environment. People have continued to lose jobs and the formal retail and mining – especially diamonds and lithium – have recorded some of the highest numbers of jobs lost. Households have continued to struggle for survival.
However, despite these issues South Africans must remember that humanity is one. Currently, some countries in the region are even mulling doing away with restrictions at borders, opting to make citizens of their respective countries use identity documents to travel across their borders.
We hope that as countries try to improve livelihoods for their citizens, the leadership of South Africa must deal with the xenophobia challenge head-on as it threatens to rupture whatever relations countries had built.
Zimbabwe has given opportunities to many South African individuals and companies through trade and access to Zimbabwean markets. At some point, Zimbabwe appeared to be the dumping ground for several goods from their southern neighbours.
Xenophobic sentiments in South Africa cannot be allowed to continue, especially when we look at the pan-Africanism envisioned by early nationalists in that country who include Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu.
Consequently, political, civic and community leaders in South Africa must play an active role in efforts to socio-economic challenges facing the country without scapegoating immigrants. Effective anti-xenophobia strategies must be formulated.
The groups leading protests argue that foreigners are responsible for the unemployment and high crime rate in the country but have not looked at internal structural deficiencies inherent in post-apartheid South African society.
The entrenched poverty and widening inequality in the townships cannot be solved through hatred of foreigners. Economic inclusion will help strengthen social cohesion.
- Wilson is the founder and leader of the Democratic Official Party.