₦airaland Forum

Great article. I have been echoing this all along

The attacks on migrant shop owners in Durban this week reminds us the position of foreigner in South Africa is a complex one. After decades of isolation from the rest of the African continent, and the world, during apartheid, South Africa finally opened up to the rest of world in 1994.

Under apartheid, South Africa’s immigration mirrored the narrow mindedness and prejudice of the National Party. Several laws made visiting or living in South Africa unpalatable to many. Particularly those of non-European descent.

At the dawn of the “new South Africa” in 1994, the country became home to many outsiders playing a key role in offering protection and refuge to people who had suffered unfavorable conditions in their home countries.


At the heart of South Africa’s complex problem with xenophobia is the loaded meaning of the term “foreigner.” Pejoratively, the term “foreigner” in South Africa usually refers to African and Asian non-nationals.

“Other” foreigners—particularly those from the Americas and Europe go unnoticed—they are often lumped up with “tourists,” or even better, referred to as “expats.”

It is this reason why the South African government says its hesitant to call the recent attacks on foreign nationals as xenophobic.



Is it “Afrophobia” or xenophobia?

Many South Africans look at the attacks on enterprising African immigrants from Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Nigeria and Malawi—often running shops, stalls and other businesses in the informal economy—and resolve that the current attacks on foreigners are more afrophobic, than xenophobic.



Many ask: “Why is it that a Somali man can run a shop in a township, get raided and beaten up, while a white immigrant in town continues to run a restaurant full of patrons?”



It is this delineation that breeds ground for denial.


While this sentiment may be correct—that the violent expression of xenophobia in South Africa is meted out mainly against African immigrants – it is unhelpful to resolve the crisis that has left many foreign nationals homeless, tortured and dispossessed.


While we can ascribe the attacks to sentiments of Afrophobia, we must be willing to agree that the attacks are fuelled by a sense of hatred, dislike and fear of foreigners – and that is xenophobia. And given the fact that foreign nationals from Pakistan and Bangladesh have been profiled in this wave of attacks, it will soon no longer be enough for South Africans to cry “Afrophobia.”


A hangover from the past, fueled by present

South Africa’s xenophobia reflects the country’s history of isolation. As a country at the Southern most tip of Africa, South Africans are fond of referring to their continental counterparts as “Africans” or “people from Africa.” Many business ventures, news publications and events—aimed at local audiences—routinely speak about “going to Africa.”



Of course this narrow-mindedness, suffered by both black and white South Africans, is a by-product of apartheid. For black people, apartheid was an insidious tool used to induce self-hate and tribalize people of the same race. For white South Africans, apartheid was a false rubber-stamp of the white race as superior.


It is these two conceptions that gave rise to the myth that South Africa is not part of the African continent, but a different place that just happens to be on the tip of the continent.

Long after the scourge of apartheid, it is also clear that we’re fueling this prejudice in the present.

It remains to be seen whether South Africans will break away from these shackles, and rid themselves of this horrid prejudice anchored in our past, but seemingly fuelled by our present.





http://qz.com/384041/why-black-south-africans-are-only-attacking-foreign-africans-but-not-foreign-whites/

samtol4:
SA government now finding way to pacify the local looters

What are they doing, passing out free government checks??

Onge:
I joined nairaland because I enjoy sharing views with other African, and I can tell you I am very ashamed of what is happening to my country and I pray that all these xenophobic attacks stop, when I watch the news and I see my brothers and sisters being treated like animals it breaks my heart I am a South African and I love each and every African as if they were my siblings because I belong to this continent and I wish our brothers and sisters from other African countries may know that the are South Africans who love them genuinely and who are against Xenophobia.

We know the true Saffers who are pan African and we salute them any day. In the spirit of Uhuru, make we dance small.

VIVA AFRICA!!

Jealous haters and envious ba.sta.rds will continue to see us shine!

[flash=400, 300]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVNPkCI-ytY[/flash]

14:
mmmmhh, The very same Nigerians, Ethiopians and Egyptians are still flocking to the very poor South Africa, how ironic.

Restructure that statement. 'The very same Nigerians, Ethiopians and Egyptians are utilizing opportunities poor South Africans can't figure out yet.

ololo12:
Illegal immigrant in Africa? soilsista! Africa belongs to Africans. There shouldn't be anything as illegal immigrant. Africans can only be illegal immigrant in other continent. I don't see an European being illegal in Europe. Please do away with that kind of mentality. How come when Madiba was alive, he kept saying Africa is for Africans. And never said anything about illegal immigrants.

When Madiba said Africa, he meant South Africa.

InMyOpinion:
They also attack people from Zimbabwe and other countries from Southern Africa. Xenophobia in SA does not spare anyone my friend

That's what I don't get, Why are you looting peoples shops. These illegal foreigners are making a living selling stuff. They are illegal Yes!, but they are not criminal in nature.

If you are pissed then attack the people who are selling drugs, attack your local prostitutes, why are attacking people who are making a living

See video for problems with South African Xenophobia

[flash=400, 300]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yfmGzVMnEw[/flash]

vandalZA:
your dream is to wake up one-day called a south African citizen

Tufiakwa!

The country is already going down, its just a matter of time my friend.

pickabeau1:
Is this true
https://www.nairaland.com/2256730/south-africans-attack-nigerians-durban
And I was planning to visit SA later this year

Stay in Urban areas, do not travel to townships and you will be fine.

V0lv0:
Yes Mam not a Sir. I know the terms very well. Honestly you should try not to give yourself HPB when it comes to some of these people. You just have to accept that violence and hate is a part of their nature. Nothing surprises me at all with them that's why I generally don' t get too close to them. I just can't wait to got my transfer(relocation)to be finalised. Anyway we just need to pray for the rest of our African Brothers and Sisters. Hopefully all this will come to pass. I would not recommended any foreigner staying in the rural areas. That's just asking for trouble. If things are so bad would it not be better to suffer back at home and get peace of mind then suffer in a country that hates your guts and where you will most likely murdered.

Sorry Madam, no vex. As per say you name your self motor, I think say you be guy!

Yes, you are right. Locations are a no no!

V0lv0:
You do know they can't tell the difference between Igbo and Yoruba? Heck some classify all foreigners as the same because they can't deferential between different countries so your Yoruba brothers are also affected by it. Being a tribalistic bigot is really uncalled for. It's weird how some of you people will shout xenophobia but you are tribalistic as fk. Smdfh

Yes Sir, they are colloquially known as "Makwerekwere" singular person and "Lekwerekwere" plural.

Fire15:
They've carried their gar gra to SA, thinking they're in Lagos. SA is not a no man's land, come back to Naija. Come to think of it, were Nigerians in the Academia attacked. Nigerians from a certain part are notoriously known to be drug lords and traffickers.

You my friend are an ignoramus.

You better continue selling fish on the side of the road in Agege.

BluIvy:
Listen buddy, i respect all mothers I might not know yours and what she did or not but do not dare bring her into this ugliness unless you do not care about her much. Thank you!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Please google the popular American phrase.

*****Shame**** South Africans. You guys are truly sheltered.

BluIvy:
[s][/s]
Sorry, did you say something? Pssst!

Mama didn't raise no fool !!!!

Shall I translate it to Motswana for you

BluIvy:
[s][/s]
read what you quoted me on then re-write the rubbish you have just written there.
btw, you are not pooling anyone we know you pretend not to be in SA but you are. Well, I don't wish that they attack you be careful SA is not Lagos, do not dare them they must just try to see what you are capable of. Try and avoid the drama and stay alive.

The audacity you people have to think every Nigerian is a begger wanting to come to your country. Save that for them village and semi skilled boys seeking fake asylum applications. Morpheus24 will never be one of them. I can bet my life on that one.

PS. I detest Cowards who attack in mobs because they know they can get away with murder. If I were there with my peoples you damn sure I will be with my matchete in hand ready to take as many of ya'll down as possible.


Mama didn't raise no fool

BluIvy:
Only behind Nigeria i would imagine because as we speak Nigeria is at the no. 1 spot.
Even a Thai police officer confirmed that receives" Nigeria is the shame and curse of Africa". An Indian community leader call Nigerians a cancer that the world need to rid itself of. I can go on and on but i hope you get the point. In all of this South Africans are doing all of this in their country while you are rotten inside and outside you country. We are lazy and being wicked in our country, get it? If you do not like it, get the fcck out of our country. Is it by force that you must be in SA? I think SA will have to just take it up a million times notch to replace Nigeria at that spot. And that is the truth.

You guys are hilarious. Remove Nigerians from the picture, if you come near us it will be blood for blood. If you take the life of any of us, we will take yours as well. In the mean time

Why are you looting and stealing from Spaza shops?

Why are you Killing and burning humans beings?

Why did you Kill two Ethiopians and even your own people?

Why are terrorizing women and children?

Why can't you out smart these foreigners and simply practice GROUP ECONOMICS, Don't buy from their stores and starve them out. WHo are their customers then

Why do you have local South Africans being employed in Nigerian restaurants an establishments, Why can't you open your own restaurant?

Why do Whites prefer to hire Malawians and other black foreigners in Cape town at restaurants. Do they know something we don't.

COWARDS!!!

PS. You trust the words of a st.upid THai officer on YOutube who's country is the # 1 Asian country where child prostitution and drug trafficking has flourished for decades The locals practically sell girls at age 9 out to foreign white tourists to perform "Yum Yum"

Apparently you are not well versed on global matters. Stay in your country and live free and die ignorant.

donodion:
Guys I got this by evening on my cell. Share....
Sorry send this......
LETS UNITE AS FOREIGNERS AND FIGHT BACK
Nigerians in West Street and Point in Durban KZN have defended their lives by fighting back these hooligans,thieves and day light robbers.We are many and strong enough to unite and fight back until the International Community intervenes.To be honest SAPS,ANC and the South African government are aware of this brutal incident but they are doing little to stop it.Its clear they are in support of it.Brothers and sisters from Zimbabwe DRC Malawi Mozambique Somalia Pakistan Nigeria GhanasBurundi,Eastern Europe and all others lets unite and stand tall fight back and defend our lives,wives, children and property.If we fight back the international community Will see it.Together We Stand Divided We Fall.Lets die together with them if they so wish.We are not cowards .We are not Chickens Infact we are smarter than them.Let the fight begins.FORWARD THIS TO ALL FOREIGN NATIONALS IN SA

Fight back!

vandalZA:
teachers and Drs from Ghana in apartheid error...?! you are kidding me.....everything in south Africa before 94 was done in afrikkans from maths to biology from physics to geography from history to agriculture in afrikkans and only home languages were done in according to ethics.....so if I may ask by then teachers from Ghana were able to speak or teach in afrikkans and for more information people from Africa we not allow in south Africa because whites they thought you may be sent by ANC to pass some information to the freedom fighters. So Africa and Africans were the biggest enemies of whites due to fight of apartheid

So nobody spoke or wrote anything in English prior to 1994.

So all the European, Japanese and Chinese immigrants pre 1994 all had their children speaking Afrikaans at school

Interesting.

MduZA:
we want them to go back to their countries...happy now?

You have run out of answers.

***Shame**** in South African accent

MduZA:
my man you don't have to enter this one
..this is exclusively for me and M24,you don't have to worry much about the content of my interaction with him,reason being
I have been trying to genuinely explain from page one the real situation,I have condemned these lootings and attacks several times on this thread,but M24 keeps on throwing up same stories,unfortunately I can't repeat what I hav been saying ...i assume M24 wants to hear the language am using now,you can also join if you feel like but this was meant solely for the arrogant M24..

Stop trying to sound civil and please don't think this a banter between me and a mind less intelligent than mine. Who do you think you are talking to, some illiterate Nigerian from the village.

You clearly JUSTIFIED evil acts and tried to turn this into a Nigeria/South AFrica issue without being able to answer one question with common sense.

Why are you looting peoples goods. Is that cleansing?

Why are you attacking defenseless women and children?

Why are you not cleansing the illegal Chinese, Indian, White, Pakistani etc at the same time?

MduZA:
yeah man ,we had no foreigners rooming our streets prior 94...we lived in peace without drug dealers and human traffickers..our cities were clean..please tell your country men to come back home and build your 100% black nation..we are tired of hosting people who behave like animals in an foreign land...

You want to turn this into a Nigeria//South Africa thing so we fall into that trap. Leave the Nigerians out of this, we can protect ourselves.

Why are you attacking Congolese women and children,

Why are killing and looting Ethiopian stores?

Why are you killing Somalians?

Why are you attacking Mozambicans?

Why are attacking people from SADC countries?

Why are you looting their stores and stealing their goods.

Does anyone force you to buy anything from spaza shops?

Why don't you make and spend money within yourselves and drive the foreigner out once he knows he cannot compete

Why are you not attacking indian stores?

Why are you not storming Camps bay and holding them illegal Whites there too?

Why are you not attacking illegal Chinese stores?

KLEINBASS:
guys am sure most of us maybe except all4naija are sensable an law abading citizens of south africa an nigeria. Instead of us supporting the xenophobic(south africans) an the drug dealers/flats hijackers/prostitutes/scamers/illigalists(nigerians) , why dnt we use this forum to build relationship that can tackle our issues @ bottom level. Is true ther good nigerians an very bad ones but we as accademic lets tackle those issues black or white. Mayb the next mandela may cume frm nairaland to solve african issues

I am Nigerian and it is moslty Ethiopians, Congolese, Mozambicans, Somalians, Malawians that are being attacked. I am not from those countries yet I share an affinity with them. You should be asking why anyone here would make comments about the issue when it doesn't affect them directly.

A bunch of Kenyans got KILLED!, KILLED! by Somali militants and the Kenyans did not rise up against the Somalis within their community.

Many immigrants that come from Benin republic, Cameroon, Niger republic, Chad migrate to Nigeria. You do not see any uprising

XENOPHOBIA is evil and so is drug dealing. I have never supported either and you will never find any comment on nairaland where I have done so.

What I can't stand is people who justify evil acts because they cannot face their own shame in the mirror.

MduZA:
yeah let the show go on,you can scream on top of your voice , the gods of the so called 100% black nation are listening...it would be nice to see all illegal immigrants leaving our country....our country is dirty because of you people,you want to turn our cities into Lagos,go back to your countries...dirty people

Let it be so. The so called rainbow nation unravels. Make sure you deport every foreign national while you are at it.

Tell all your people in other parts of the world to be repatriated back home as well and you can live exclusively in peace in SA.

For every black foreign national's life you take, I pray to God they take ten of yours.

Blood for blood.

MduZA:
last time you were saying that you are a maths teacher in SA...keep on crying...south Africans are cleaning their country,so what?

You are mistaking me for some other desperate Nigerian who got employed to be a teacher in SA.

You need to pull that thread up and show where I have ever mentioned I was a math teacher. Your fellow Saffers on this forum know me very well. You can also ask them to pull up where I said I was ever a teacher as well. When you find it let me know


Ps, you are not cleaning anything up. All you are doing is channeling your hatred and unresolved anger issues at people who are vulnerable and you can take advantage of.

Apartheid taught you that and you are displaying it well for all the world to see.

A part of me is glad to see it because we now see the true colors of the so called "Rainbow" nation.

No amount of distracting by asking where I live or what my profession is will diminish what is happening.

Keep deflecting!!!

samtol4:
God bless u my brother ...Durban is hot now ...the Lazy locals in their thousands storm Durban City unfortunately they met stubborn ready to die Nigerians ,they turn back looting Ethiopian shop and the guy shot for self defense ,one zulu dead now they want to revenge ....Police watching the drama...Nigerians have mobilized other foreigners for self defense since the Police and security officials are just spectators when Lazy Zulus are looting .Nigerians displaying their weapons in full glare...watch enews 403 and 405ANN7 to confirm .

I trust my people, they will not die laying down. Let them mobilize and protect themselves. They have the numbers.

Self defense is justifiable in the eyes of man and God!

MduZA:
you are also in SA...correct?

You wish I was so you can justify my anger huh!

Sorry to burst your bubble, I am no where near your country and will never live in a society that is boiling and about to implode with bent up hatred and anger still festering in their veins.

If you want to know as I have mentioned a gazillion times on Nairaland, I was in your country on volunteer work right before the attacks broke out in 2008. I saw first hand what you people are capable of doing. I wiped the brows of bloodied children and women crying. I passed food and clothing to foreign nationals who's properties were destroyed and taken away. I watched the faces of bewildered children who could not grasp what was going on in that some of them even spoke the dialects of locals.

That unfortunately has left an indelible impression on me and I continued to warn even on Nairaland for years that these actions would repeat themselves.

I have been proven right?

iterator24:
all foreigners are refugees according to you..smh..how do you deal with yourself?

Bros the below continues to be their issues. They can dish out but they can't take the truth and look themselves in the mirror

PRE 1994....WE are suffering because of APATHEID, . APATHEID MUST GO!

POST 1994....We are suffering because the WHites have all the economic power and wealth. WHITE PRIVILEGE MUST GO!

POST BEE....We are suffering because the tenderpreneurs and government are corrupt. ZUMA MUST GO!

POST 2008 Foreigners migrating into the country.... We suffering because we cant figure out how these foreigners are making money and we aren't. THE FOREIGNERS MUST GO!

POST 2014...We are still suffering..BEcause.......

MduZA:
you can't face up facts yourself,you have no clue of what a spaza shop is ,a spaza shop means a toy shop..this thing of saying that south Africans are jealous is far from the truth..jealous of what? Toy shops? Gardeners,barbers and gate boys?...some south Africans only hate foreigners because many of them are here illegally and are involved in illegal doings..

Trying so hard to defend the indefensible. If they are barbers, gardners and gate boys, why are you attacking them then?. So owning a spaza shop and selling goods is the height of illegal activity that most be flushed out eh??



White people are involved in illegal activities in your country, Why are you not fishing them out

Chinese people are involved in illegal activities in your country, WHy are you not attacking them in mass.

Indian people are involved in illegal activities in your country. Why are you not flushing them out

White foreigners are living illegally in Cape town, Why are you not marching your azz over there to drive them out.

Is it because you can only prey on the weak and defenseless, That's why your locals attack like hungry dogs!

I encourage those foreign national to band together and shoot any looter on site if they can and defend their lives if necessary.

***Shame**** in South African accent.

MduZA:
a Nigerian refugee in SA dreaming big as usual...

Why are you trying to make this about Nigeria. Please stick to the topic and stop DEFLECTING!!!!

Why is it your people are looting stores and stealing peoples property in the name of Xenophobia?

Why is it your locals cannot compete and practice GROUP ECONOMICS, Does anyone force you to buy products from foreign owned shops?

You say the foreigners are a burden to your country. They are erking out a living and are taking opportunities your lazy azzes are refusing to accept, They are all over cape town, working in hotels, restaurants. Even the Whites hire them to look after their properties. Why are they not hiring their fellow country black South Africans. Do they know something we don't?

You say they do not contribute to the economy because they do they pay taxes, but they do indirectly when they pay rent, pay for food, pay VAT, drive their cars e.tc. e.t.c.

Why can't you just admit that your people are Lazy and have a lot of bent up anger and violent tendencies and cannot seem to figure out how to capture opportunities that exist with your shores.


"They say when you let animals out cages, it dangerous to people who look like strangers_DR DRE Chronic Albulm 2001"



[flash=400, 300]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXyM96uj-hs[/flash]

osystein:
Here's the real story behind the so called xenophobic incident, took place in March
vigilante mob set criminals on fire,
http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71627?oid=1021668&sn=Detail&pid=71616

Regardless of the motive, the video was disgusting and made me literally sick to my stomach, I felt the same way as the lady who was running trying to stop them from burning. A normal human man knows such acts are insanity and come from barbaric minds.

Ayus34:
I don't insult ladies ......I will forgive u,reason I will be civil with my reply here.....just becareful and respect urself!
thanks

Ashawo!, she no go give you

@ Horus

of course the video you just posted has been removed.

^^^^

I am about to puke from disgust