When you think of major countries in Africa, your mind thinks South Africa as one of the major choices but that reasoning could be due to some favorable reasons but due to recent events it could turn unfavorable. This is the case due to drastic events that have been occurring for years. The continuous xenophobic acts towards the country’s immigrants, average working-class citizens and even higher paid citizens by the natives have shed an incredibly bad light on the country as a whole. It has become the case that several countries are refraining from or backing out making political and economic decisions that are related to South Africa, this was proven with mistrust of the country by the Nigerian government, making the country’s economy becomes weaker, as there are more and more unemployment, lack of education, increase of crimes and kidnappings in which these are not only targeted at higher class family but also the middle class and the lower class.
This essay will go into depth in regards to South Africa’s actions, economic data and their reasoning for doing what they do, this will be done to prove that the country’s way of thinking towards immigrants is closed-minded, selfish and in need of change. South Africa needs a wake-up call because it needs to stop blaming others for its downfall before it’s too late. Not only the government, but also the higher-class families need to take the proper actions needed to dissipate the turbulence created in/by the country.
Literature Review
South Africa is making headlines for the wrong reasons, with at least 12 people killed and hundreds arrested. These actions have obtained the condemnation from other African countries, who have started evacuating their respective citizens from these events. This wave of xenophobic attacks has stemmed from the belief that immigrants are the reason for South Africa’s economic downfall.
In the Quartz Africa article, “These charts show migrants aren’t South Africa’s biggest problem” (Abdi Latif Dahir, September 13, 2019). It discusses the major issues in South Africa and how the anti-immigration views hold no value. Contrary to what people think the number of foreign citizens is far smaller in comparison to its national citizens. Data from the government statistics in South Africa show that there were 2.1 million international migrants from a population of 51.7 million in 2011 which is now 2.2 million from 55.7 million. Its weak economic growth is due to ‘structural impediments’ such as corruption, weak investment levels, shortage of high-end skills and a higher than ever unemployment level. The unemployment levels are caused by the poor education levels and weak labor policies, not only the South African citizens but the immigrants have to fend for themselves. These statistics further suggest that the South African economic downfall is not caused by outsiders but by the national citizens themselves.
Hostility towards immigrants in South Africa had been brewing for a decade, as many native South Africans blamed the economic problems on non-native. Even going as far as accusing the immigrants of stealing jobs and residency from them. In the article by The New York Times ‘Anti-Immigrant Venom Killed Their South African Dreams’ (Julie Turkewitz, Sept. 20, 2019), it displays the difficulties the Nigerians who were residing in South Africa faced and are facing because of recent occurrences. Multiple people express their fear of the possibility of dying if they had stayed behind and not fled. Their hopes and dreams of landing opportunities and a safe place to raise their families were shattered. In an animalistic burst of violence during September, people in and around Johannesburg began destroying and burning immigrant-owned shops. The burst of violence caused the death of around 12 people. In response a diplomatic split was produced between both governments, threatening the relations of Africa’s largest economies.
Although several actions have been initiated by the South African government to seize control of what is happening, Nigeria’s government has gone ahead in their actions of bringing back their people, this is also happening with immigrants from other countries.
‘Five Important Things Happening in South Africa Today’ (Staff Writer, Nov. 20, 2019) an article by BusinessTech, describes in 5 key bullet points the problems South Africa is facing at the moment. In the first point public enterprise Pravin Gordhan says that although the government is committed to saving its Airways, there is no money coming from state coffers. He goes on suggesting that unions in disagreement should come together as quickly as possible. The second point discusses how there isn’t any money to pay workers who have gone on a strike anymore, and retrenchments should happen to make businesses viable. The main key point that should be taken from this article is key point 4. This key point discusses the rise of kidnapping in South Africa. The criminals are no longer focusing on the rich and wealthy but also on the middle class and under. Anybody is vulnerable to these attacks - children, teenagers or adults. Police reports statistics show that the rate of kidnapping has increased 139% over the last decade, around 16 people kidnapped or abducted daily. This amplifies that immigrants are not solely to blame.
‘Xenophobia in South Africa’ is a Wikipedia page that notes the main facts in regards to the history of apartheid in South Africa, from the very beginning to recent occurrences. The discrimination towards the immigrants in South Africa has been going on without end, with several people being killed as what is described as xenophobic attacks. Although the attacks are targeted towards immigrants, some natives are also caught up in the midst of it all, resulting in them being killed also. A poll conducted in 2018 showed that 62% of all South Africans still viewed immigrants as a burden on society by taking up the jobs and social benefits they did not deserve and 61% thought immigrants were responsible for the rise in crimes, which is not the case.
Discussion
Just because your supposed three neighbors are immigrants, that doesn’t necessarily mean that your whole country is infested with immigrants wanting to steal your job and your welfare. This is the case for the South Africans. They believe that their country is overflowing with immigrants that are profiting from their needed social benefits as shown in a poll conducted in 2018. The poll showed that 62% of all South Africans still viewed immigrants as a burden on society by taking up the jobs and social benefits they did not deserve and 61% thought immigrants were responsible for the rise in crimes (Wikipedia), this backward thinking as resulted in a large wave of xenophobic attacks. Every individual living in South Africa is a potential victim of crimes and kidnappings. It can’t only be considered that the immigrants are the cause and instigators of all attacks made regardless of the gender, ethnicity, and age of the person. It has become obvious that a population of 2.2 million immigrants in a country of 55.7 million people (Abdi Latif Dahir, September 13, 2019) cannot be the sole cause of the economics turbulences and can be taken as these events are being wrongfully acted out due to ignorance.
I believe the South Africans are in dire need to find a person or group of individuals to blame as they fail to see their mistakes. The country doesn’t want to acknowledge that some governmental and ethical factors are meant to be dealt with before proclaiming ‘DANGER! DANGER! Beware of the immigrant’. The actions they have taken to sanctify themselves are generating a bad light on the country’s situation.
According to the Catholic Cardinal Winifred Napier, some politicians and leaders in power are a cause for the attacks on foreigners. This is being done through inflammatory speeches on migrants. Notably amongst them is the deputy police minister who in 2017 claimed that Johannesburg was being taken over by foreigners further implying that “the future president of the nation could be a foreigner”. Also, King Zwelithini Goodwill has been accused of saying that “foreigners should go back to their countries”. Clearly, influential people in the nation have done little to ease tensions in the country.
The effects of the infamous apartheid still scar the country as South Africa maintains one of the highest levels of inequality in the world. The legacy of separation tweaked land ownership, limited access to economic capital have transcended into various levels of disparity within the nation. According to the World Bank in 2015, some 60% of the population held a mere 7% of the country's net worth while the richest 10% controlled a stunning 71% of the net wealth. This level of inequality has done nothing, but fueled resentment and frustration against any person(s) leading to outbursts against fellow African foreigners.
The Human Science Research Council (HSRC) in its report on the subject matter uncovered some social issues that promote attacks on foreigners. It has been formulated that sheer jealousy has been a major reason behind the attacks on foreigners. According to the research, above 61% of the public identified immigrants as the real cause behind their current economic decline. The cause of jealousy is thought to be that of individual prejudice and widespread misconceptions about international migrants. Also, interviews granted to some affected foreigners relayed the message that most South Africans are inherently lazy.
As for the problematic issues, the country faces with their defective economy, as shown by the article ‘Anti-Immigrant Venom Killed Their South African Dreams’ (Julie Turkewitz, Sept. 20, 2019) the destruction of shops and the commerce of innocent people, trying to survive and make a living does nothing to help whatever situation is at hand. Their false conception of immigrants' overcrowding has clouded their visions and now they are unable to see right from wrong. This is the result of an insufficient number of tools and resources needed to educate the people, so they are unable to open their eyes and reflect on the real issues and the real cause.
The government needs to be one of the major mediators of this issue. It is their job to keep the people under control and to prevent further xenophobic uprising. Their job is to keep the people at ease, to make sure that they are aware enough to the real issues the country faces and to give alternatives for a more decent future.
Conclusions
To conclude, the immigrant issue in South Africa can be seen differently, by the South Africans themselves and those looking in or those who are affected by the recent events. The common idea of immigrants overpowering the country is widely believed but contrary to what the citizens think the number of foreign citizens is far smaller in comparison to the country’s national citizens. The government statistics data in South Africa show there were 2.2 million international migrants from a population of 55.7 million which is only 3.9% of the total population. The high unemployment rates believed by the native South Africans to be a result of the unwanted immigrants but is more than likely due to multiple reasons, one of the most important being the country’s weak economic growth that is due to ‘structural impediments’ like corruption, weak investment levels, shortage of high-end skills and a higher than ever unemployment level. The continuous weak economic growth is caused by poor education levels and weak labor policies, as not only the South African citizens but the immigrants have to fend for themselves. A 2018 poll conducted revealed that 62% of all South Africans still viewed immigrants as a burden on society by taking up the jobs and social benefits they did not deserve and 61% thought immigrants were responsible for the rise in crimes. This is not the case as police reports statistics show that the rate of kidnapping has increased 139% over the last decade, around 16 people are kidnapped or abducted daily.
I believe that failure to educate the people is one of the main causes of this problem as apartheid has been going on for years, it can be assumed to be the government fault for not taking the proper actions and means to avoid future misconduct by the people. There is a lack of a strong positive force and a greater lack of self-awareness and acceptance of wrongdoings. This is said as it can be seen through previous stated data that South Africans believe they aren’t at fault and the only other people to blame their problems on are the immigrants.
Summary
To summarize this paper as a whole, the main subject put forward is the instability of South Africa’s economy and how they have managed to shift the blame from themselves to the county’s incoming and or residing immigrants. They are unwilling to accept that their weak economic growth that is due to their structural impediments which stem from corruption, weak investment levels, shortage of high-end skills and a higher than ever unemployment level. This continuously weak growth is caused by their poor education levels and weak labor policies. The government needs to enforce better laws and put in place better repercussions for the country to rise and put behind their impediments and prevent further economic fall. Also, false rumors being spread to create fear in the people needs to stop.