In an open letter to the south african president, one of the countrys big labour unions and an organisation representing african migrant communities called for the identification of areas where xenophobic attacks might occur. Xenophobic killing in south africa caught by photos cnn. The unhcr rosa staff and their south african partners who implemented. Apr 20, 2015 april 20, 2015 xenophobia in south africa by garikai chengu. Yet despite its notoriety, xenophobia in south africa has been one of those phenomenon that are little understood and under researched, and seem to only attention attack when they result in violent outbreaks. South africa urgently take steps to combat impunity for. In the last 23 years, no fewer than 200 foreign nationals have been killed or maimed in xenophobic attacks in south africa, an investigation by sunday vanguard revealed.
The south african government should take urgent measures to protect. At an anti xenophobia march in johannesburg last week, signs lifted above the heads of the thousands gathered made clear appeals to the vision of an inclusive, peaceful south africa set out by its most infamous struggle. In 2015 unrest in the cities of johannesburg and durban. But as violence against them continues, the south african government insists that criminality is behind it. The 2015 xenophobic attacks are a fresh reminder of antiimmigrant sentiments in south africa.
Apr 26, 2015 south africas xenophobic attacks vile, says zulu king accused of inciting them recent attacks against immigrants have reportedly caused at least seven deaths in the country. Fresh xenophobic attacks in south africa, shops looted. Anonymous texts and emails have warned of xenophobic attacks in. A retrospective study of the effects of xenophobia on south. The south african authorities hoped that it would generate nearly r500 billion a year by end of 2020 and create some 225,000 new jobs. Making south africa the largest recipient of immigrants on the african continent in 2019. South africa is a nation of multiple ethnicities, languages and nationalities.
Apr 14, 2015 xenophobic violence in south africa leaves at least five dead. May 06, 2015 the responses to the january 2015 looting of foreignowned shops in soweto and in april in durbans central business district and elsewhere reveal more about the south african national. According to 2015 figures released by statistics south africa, 21. But as voas anita powell learned when she visited the destroyed businesses. Apr 17, 2015 south african police fire rubber bullets to disperse crowds setting ablaze immigrant businesses as attacks on foreigners spread to johannesburg.
These recurrent attacks violate a host of fundamental human rights of foreign nationals, including the right to life, right to own property and the right to seek and enjoy safe asylum. In the absence of concrete and effective preventive measures, these areas are likely to experience violence again. From the zulu and xhosa, to the dutch and the british. Somali and tutsi to indian tamil and gujarati, chinese and zimbabwean. As part of the africa day celebrations on 25 may 2015. Apr 18, 2015 police reinforcements are pouring into violenceridden areas fuelled by xenophobia. Apr 23, 2015 about 30,000 people march through south africa s main city, johannesburg, to demand an end to a recent wave of attacks on african migrants. During the winter of 2008, the process of othering took on the heinous form of coordinated and systematic attacks by south african nationals against african non.
In south africa, xenophobia turns deadly al jazeera america. It shows that in most of all the countrys nine provinces, many areas have become scenes of repeated xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals i. China complains to south africa over xenophobic attacks1. Although there are no appropriate records, the south african bigotry. The attacks on foreign owned businesses in johannesburg last week and the refusal of many south africans to acknowledge the xenophobic impulse behind these attacks as well as the odious justifications for such attacks are, sadly, not that surprising.
In 2015, the african commission on human and peoples rights issued. Feb 15, 2017 groups representing immigrant communities in south africa said they fear a recent upsurge in antiforeigner sentiment could spark a recurrence of xenophobic attacks that rocked the country in 2008. Mar 10, 2017 recurrence of xenophobic attacks in south africa. In 2015, there were outbreaks of violence against nonsouth africans, mostly in the cities of durban and johannesburg, which led to the deployment of the army to. From apartheid to democracy and now its xenophobic attacks.
In 2015, seven people died during looting of foreignowned businesses in johannesburg and durban. Feb 24, 2017 xenophobic violence has returned to south africa, with recent attacks on foreignowned shops in the capital, pretoria. South africa is in the throes of xenophobic attacks akin to those witnessed in 2008 and 2015. Specter of xenophobic violence resurfaces in south africa. But the recent xenophobic attacks on african immigrants has tarnished the image of south africa and has seriously affected its tourism industry. The proportion of south africa s total population that is foreign born increased from 2. However divided, unequal, and structurally flawed, south africa is home to a very diverse population of people. On 11 april 2015, several south africans attacked foreigners in a xenophobic attack in durban, south africa, which extended to some parts of johannesburg.
President jacob zuma denounced the violence against foreigners in a statement. Xenophobia in south africa causes, attacks and history. In 2015, another nationwide spike in xenophobic attacks against immigrants in general prompted a number of. Xenophobia once again jeopardises south africas interests in africa. The attacks stimulated a range of pronouncements and accounts from political and. South africa leaders took notice after james oatway caught the horror in a wave of violence. May 06, 2015 south africa is indebted to many others in the continent who provided essential support during the antiapartheid struggle. Reflections, narratives and recommendations hussein solomon university of the free state, republic of south africa hitomi kosaka osaka university, japan and university of the free state abstract xenophobia, simply put, is the fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers. Prior to 1994, immigrants from elsewhere faced discrimination and even violence in south. It is also necessary to map the 2008 violence against the state of social cohesion in. Mar 07, 2017 outbreaks of antiimmigrant violence are recurring in south africa, whose standard of living attracts millions of foreigners from all over the continent, often illegally. Since the 2008 xenophobic violence in the country, there has been a growing literature on xenophobia. South africa 2015 xenophobic attacks spread to joburg on vimeo. Using data from fieldwork conducted in 20142015 in cape town with ngos and.
Several people, both foreign and south african alike, were killed with some of the killings captured on camera. Xenophobic violence in south africa leaves at least five dead. Apr 25, 2015 an anti xenophobia activist stands chained in front of a banner, as thousands of people get ready to march against the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in south africa on april 23, 2015. Xenophobia against migrants from other african countries is not new in south africa. Xenophobic attacks spark south african response bbc news. In that context the paper looks at the general perspective of xenophobia in south africa focusing on the main reasons why local citizens attack foreign nationals. At least 12 people were killed and hundreds arrested after mobs attacked foreignowned shops in johannesburg and pretoria last.
The rise of violent xenophobia in the new south africa pdf. Map of locations where human rights watch documented attacks on foreign. Antiimmigrant violence has flared sporadically in south africa against a background of nearrecord unemployment, with foreigners being. Apr 20, 2015 south africa leaders took notice after james oatway caught the horror in a wave of violence. Xenophobia in south africa is a phenomenon synonymous with violence and hatred towards foreigners. Historical overview of nigeria south africa relations the history of nigeria south africa relations could be traced to events arising from the sharpeville massacre of 21st march.
Several shops were looted in johannesburg alexandra and. South africas johannesburg marches against xenophobia bbc news. South africas xenophobic attacks vile, says zulu king. Furthermore, the paper recommends some strategies that can be used to prevent south africans attacking foreign nationals. The tragic irony of ongoing xenophobic attacks is that at least six africans have lost their lives, and yet those africans all came. What is behind south africas xenophobic attacks on. South africa is back in the news yet again for all the wrong reasons. This study seeks to understand the causes and nature of xenophobia in south africa. Bronwyn harris is a former project manager at the centre for the study of violence and reconciliation. Xenophobia in south africa a brief summary by alice. Making south africa a case study on the management of xenophobia, this study.
Chinas foreign ministry said that the country has already made formal complaints to south africa over xenophobic attacks against chinese nationals. A south african human rights commission report in 2010 pdf below. Xenophobia in south africa causes, attacks and history interactive. Potential visitors to south africa are raising questions about safety.
The recent spate of attacks on foreignowned shops in some south african townships raises uncomfortable questions about xenophobia, as did similar attacks in 2008. On april 2015, anc secretary general gwede mantashe reportedly stated that there was a need for camps in response to the attacks against refugees. By the end of 2015, this number is expected to top 330,000. We, the undersigned civil society organisations write to you to raise concerns about the continued recurrence of xenophobic attacks against nonnationals living in the republic of south africa. Pdf in may 2008, xenophobic violence erupted in south africa. Economic opportunity in the brics and beyond, portfolio. Impact of xenophobic attacks on south african tourism. Xenophobic attacks continue in south africa the guardian.