xenophobic attacks on Foreingers in South Africa

The recent xenophobic attack on foreigners across South Africa has brought shame and disbelief to many of our communities. The killing of innocent people, unnecessary displacement of families and the beating are really uncalled for. Such a behavior need to be condemned and stopped immediately.

Boundary Crossing adds its voice to those of others and unreservedly condemns the wave of xenophobic violence sweeping through the townships in the Gauteng province. These attacks have forcefully brought to the fore the extent of xenophobia towards specifically black foreigners in South Africa, but contrary to what many believe, attacks on foreigners are not a new phenomenon in South Africa. During the mid-1990's there were several attacks on foreigners in various parts of the country, not unlike what we are witnessing at the moment and over the years, there have also been various sporadic attacks on foreigners, particularly in the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape. However, what we are seeing at the moment is a much more widespread, intense and sustained campaign of attacks concentrated in the Gauteng Province.

Whenever there have been violent attacks on foreigners, many politicians and government officials have tended to downplay the significance of xenophobia, preferring to label such attacks as opportunistic crime and 'conflicts over resources'. While crime and resource conflicts clearly play a part in provoking these attacks, it is also apparent that the attacks are targeted primarily at black foreigners, which confirms the xenophobic and racist nature of the attacks. The argument is also made that these attacks are as a result of the anger and frustration of communities 'boiling over' suggesting that they have just taken place 'spontaneously'. However, there is nothing spontaneous about these attacks. If anything, it appears that they are organized and part of a campaign that targets foreigners living in some of South Africa's poorest communities, using the argument that foreigners steal jobs, are involved in crime and are a drain on resources to whip up anti-foreigner sentiments that ultimately result in the kind of violence that we are seeing today.

Every effort must be made to stop the current wave and to prevent further violence. In particular, pro-active strategies and plans need to be put in place to prevent the violence from spreading to other parts of Gauteng and to other parts of the country, including the need for dialogue within and between government and civil society organisations to devise appropriate responses and strategies to the current situation. While we acknowledge that the task of preventing xenophobia is the responsibility of government in its entirety and in co-operation with civil society, we call on the to act swiftly and provide safety and security for all the people in the country

In the long-term and to prevent the outbreak of similar incidents in future, consideration must be given to revising South Africa's immigration policy particularly with respect to the need to articulate the rights of migrants more clearly and to promote migration as a tool for growth and development. This must be done in conjunction with ongoing public education programmes as well as human rights and counter-xenophobia training, particularly in those communities in which xenophobic violence is most likely to occur.

As a community organisation, We express our condolences to the relatives and friends of those who have been killed and our solidarity with and support for all those who have been injured and displaced. As an organisation and to the extent that it is appropriate, Boundary Crossing commits itself to participate in any initiatives that will bring an end to the violence and prevent similar incidents in future

For more information:
Director: Mpho Putu 084 836 0966
Email: mphoputu@mweb.co.za
Email Boundarycros@mweb.co.za

Projects Coordinator: Thami Thomo 072 769 0365
P. O. Box 1224 Mondeor, 2091