Focus: Xenophobia in South Africa
Nothing more than an inferiority complex.
      by Phumlani Zulu

All South Africans from all walks of life must unite and strongly condemn the xenophobic attacks that have been occurring in the past few days in our country. Our political leaders, traditional leaders, community leaders, Unions leaders, student leaders must go out and meet the people at grassroots level to find out exactly what has suddenly sparked these xenophobic attacks in our country. These attacks are not only barbaric and inhumane, but it is hugely embarrassing for South Africans, both locally and internationally. It is wrong and narrow-minded for us South Africans to put our country at cross-roads once again. We have put our young fledging democracy in titus. We have turned the tide against our former friends during apartheid into enemies. What if they have treated our exiles during those dark days like we are treating them now?
 

These violent attacks are a blot on a country that has produced one of the finest constitutions in the world. There is a need for strong and visible action both in the short and medium term and it must be proactive. For now law enforcement units must work tirelessly to contain the situation and our government should use all means possible to offer structural, psychological and other appropriate relief to the victims of this violence. Our security forces need to clamp down hard on the violence by arresting and severely punishing the perpetrators. We, the South African citizens should become bed fellows with security forces and work hand in hand with them in apprehending the perpetrators.

 
Such latest developments need self-introspection and self-criticism from us South Africans. Most foreign nationals who are   in South Africa have fled economic meltdown in neighboring Zimbabwe and have come in to our country  for better opportunities but are being blamed   for increasing crime rates and depriving locals of jobs. This may seem like the results of policy failures to address critical housing shortages, clandestine immigration and the poverty-ridden conditions in the slum areas that surround South Africa's cities. But they cannot justify inhumane tendencies which are currently going on in South Africa. No argument may justify such tendencies.
 
However South Africans must stand up and remember these words by Nelson Mandela: ''Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another''.

If we as South Africans can keep these words alive, and treat our foreign brothers and sisters with humanity, dignity and respect labeling would never occur. We will never chase them away. We will share in our country's wealth and live together in peace.

Imagine your brother from a war ravaged country huddling under a blanket praying that it doesn't rain on him and the hundreds of other African migrants camped in the courtyard of a Johannesburg police station. Imagine a three month young child sleeping in a tent with no blankets at the Chesterville police station.. Where have we lost that authenticity of humanity, of treating everyone with respect and dignity? What is it that has dulled our minds to resort to such merciless actions and why are we not denying it a room for existence? This is a crisis putting our young democracy into jeopardy. Our president and other senior political and government officials have condemned these barbaric acts but there are few signs showing that our government has stepped in with significant aid for victims. Only relief agencies, religious groups and individual concerned citizens have distributed tents, clothes and food to these displaced African brothers and sisters. It is depressing to see our fellow Africans treated like these by the very same Africans who once sought refugee to their countries. How do you set alight your brother and chant slogans while your brother is in pain? How do you justify such an inhumane act? How did it feel for all those women who were rejoicing while our brothers were in pain?

To me xenophobia is nothing.

It's just another form of inferiority complex leading to frustration, driving people to misdirect their anger. This is a wake up call for all of us in South Africa. Today we are chasing our brothers and tomorrow we will fight against one another as South Africans and I wonder when we are going to stop. We need our African fellows and they also need us. From now on, all concerned South Africans should heed a call of fighting side by side against xenophobic elements. It is now the time for all South Africans to stand up like never before and fight xenophobia.

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