Xenophobia In South Africa Has A Deep Reason - Injustice

Xenophobia In South Africa Has A Deep Reason - Injustice

Xenophobic Attack in South Africa

Africans are among the most self-loathing and least accepting of each other as a people on the planet. They would rather accept, invite, fete and betray each other to foreigners who don't look like them than foster togetherness with each other. We compete for the white man's attention, adopt his ways and seek his approval even when it is evident that white Neo-liberal economic oppression is the main cause of the problems on the continent. 

In the past couple of weeks, black South Africans have besieged businesses belonging to other Africans, wounding and killing some of them.  South African citizens appear to think that the prosperity of those they define as foreigners has been at the expense of indigenes. This short-sighted idiocy is encouraged by dishonest and xenophobic political leaders and state officials  who try to maintain the illusion that South Africa's economic inequalities will be ameliorated once other Africans doing business in the country are eliminated - literally.

A few decades ago, black South Africans were treated less than human in the land their ancestors had lived for millennium. They were segregated into what amounted to ghettos and mainly interacted with white apartheid South Africa as farm hands and house helps. South Africans became refugees in surrounding countries and the fight to end white domination of the country was possible through the generosity of many African nations. After the end of apartheid and installation of black majority rule, there was no concerted effort to address the injustices perpetrated against blacks during the apartheid era. The egregious evil of apartheid (which only ended on paper) was swept under the rug through a cockamamie "truth and reconciliation" nonsense. This essentially meant that all the atrocities of the army, police and judiciary were forgiven after confessing to their crimes before the "reconciliation" committee. In contrast, after the Second World War, at the Nuremberg trials of NAZI officers, there was no truth and reconciliation - just truth and judgement. The atrocities of apartheid parallel those of the NAZIs but was shamelessly condoned by the so-called "developed" world. But more importantly, most of the white sociopolitical structures that kept blacks in an inferior position were left intact. Access to land and upward mobility through gainful employment remained a pipe dream for blacks in the so-called townships. 

Because very little was done to integrate the majority of black people into the "new" South Africa, they were frustrated, and anger at the system continued to simmer just below the surface. First, no real justice was served for black people at the end of apartheid - probably because of a political trade-off acceded to by the leaders that took over from the apartheid regime. Second, some irresponsible black leaders at the end of apartheid sought to deflect the real reason for black disenfranchisement by subtly suggesting and allowing xenophobic attacks on black foreigners. This has led to a deep rabbit hole that may eventually lead to a civil war. Julius Malema, the EFF leader has consistently warned that the anger exhibited by black South Africans against foreign Africans may later degenerate into an unpredictable internal conflict in the future as economic conditions continue to deteriorate for blacks. 

Today, without justice, hope or real freedom, black South Africans vent their frustrations on those least able to fight back - other Africans. Most of these Africans are self-employed and contribute to the local economy. Black South Africans appear to have no motivation to go beyond the satisfaction of basic needs. They have become envious of the fact that so-called foreigners are filling some of the local business void. But if truth be told, the real problem is that post apartheid economic emancipation of black South Africans has not gained any traction. 

A common problem of black on black interaction when economic survival is an issue is the failure to seek cooperation and harnessing potentials for the common good. This destructive and self-defeating attitude is a reflection of our colonial past of "divide and conquer" that was imposed by whites. But which was subsequently entrenched by indigenous leaders who took over from the departing colonists. 

Xenophobic attacks on other black people in South Africa is totally uncalled for when the white architects of economic misery in the country live rich and protected lives. Because the culprits of injustice appear untouchable, black South Africans have turned on other blacks because of self-hatred and fear. The whites and their black collaborators keep the flame of xenophobia alive so that black South Africans cannot see the light of truth. Today, the country of Mandela is notorious for murder, preternatural violence against women and armed robbery. The armed struggle against apartheid has degenerated into a self-destructive debacle and attacks on black foreigners are a symptom of a deeper reaction against a disquieting sense of injustice.

Until the historical injustice, barefaced thievery and genocide that culminated in the institution of apartheid in South Africa is fully addressed the country will continue to work for whites and their black cohorts while the majority poor blacks will keep asking the wrong questions, getting the wrong answers that result in wrong actions. Other Africans, no matter the propaganda, did not cause the problem of South African blacks - the blow is coming from the white fist inside the velvet glove.

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