The xenophobic attacks that black South Africans unleash on foreigners, especially fellow blacks, have assumed such a pathological dimension that must be addressed now, or the country risks being isolated, this time by other African nations and for good. The reasons for such attacks are so flippant that it is so clear there is no justification for them.
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For black South Africans, the fear of or hatred for foreigners has a historical context. It could be viewed as a hangover from the repressive Apartheid era.
The attacks are rooted in the belief that foreigners are a threat to the wellbeing of the natives. Foreigners, in this case blacks, they reason, take their jobs and business opportunities. There are other allegations bothering on human relations where the visitors are seen as threats to family ties.
These feelings of insecurity fueling the attacks are in a way the direct consequences the continuing social and economic inequality that still characterise the South African society. This, coupled with a formal economy that excludes many blacks, heightens their distaste of black migrants.
While the attacks affect virtually all black visitors to the country, Nigerians seem to be specially targeted. They are branded as criminals involved in illicit trade, and trafficking in fake goods. Ahmed Lawan, Nigeria’s Senate President, on July 15 revealed that about 118 Nigerians have been killed in South Africa since xenophobic attacks started –13 were at the hands of South African police.
No country can condone this colossal loss of is nationals especially in a nation Nigeria sacrificed so much for. Despite the passage of time, the contribution of Nigeria to the liberation of South Africa from the jaws of apartheid cannot wane or be trivialised.
Irked by these killings, Nigerian students recently issued an ultimatum to South African businesses operating in Nigeria, especially MTN, to fold up and go. MTN is the biggest telecom operation in Nigeria It does not have come to this.
The time has come therefore for a change in the narrative. It is this unchanging version of the people’s story that has sustained the violence which is now accepted as a way of life for black South Africans. They must let South Africa’s dark past go for good and chart a new path and narrative to drive their future. The story that blacks are their mortal enemies must change.
Part of the change process must be a conscious effort on the part of the South African government to initiate moves to get the blacks integrated into the economy. Such a big economy on the continent must gradually begin to absorb those on the lower rungs of society who happen to be largely blacks.
There is however hope. South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, this week met with President Muhammadu Buhari on the sidelines of the seventh Tokyo International Conference for Africa Development in Japan, and both leaders had a discussion on the issue.
Ramaphosa announced that his country’s justice system had already taken up the matter, declaring that he was not in support of the killings, which he said had no justifiable reasons. This is significant, coming from the number one citizen of the country.
Nigerians look forward to concrete actions being taken in cases where justice is clearly seen not to have been done. This promises to be the beginning of an obviously long walk to justice.
