South Africans and our selective memory.
SINCE the start of 2015, South Africans have witnessed the return of one of the most disturbing, recurring trends that is the brutal, and in some cases fatal, xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals.
How do the majority of people who have participated in these attacks justify them when questioned?
The general sentiment is that these foreigners have no right to be in the country and therefore they have no obligation to show them any kindness.
It baffles me that such people neglect, or have conveniently forgotten, to mention the role that foreign nationals have played in bringing about their freedom.
Let’s face facts: the most recent xenophobic attacks have taken place mainly in rural parts of Kwa-Zulu Natal and Cape Town, areas predominantly inhabited by black African people.
During Apartheid, neighbouring countries to South Africa not only sheltered struggle icons during exile but also provided them with the resources to continue their fight for liberation from outside the country, often at risk of foreign attacks and losing allies to the countries protecting them.
These exiled leaders include South Africa’s three presidents since we became a democracy, Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma who lived in Mozambique and Zambia respectively.
Perhaps this is what makes the sluggish response by Zuma even more disappointing, we forget the courtesy these people showed us when we needed their help and yet our government is quick to remember and remind us when they need to justify loaning exorbitant sums of money to Zimbabwean leader, Robert Mugabe, who is far from the supportive comrade he was in the early days of his tenure as president.
It is particularly sad when such a sentiment is shared and promoted by public figures who were actively in the struggle and directly benefited from foreign aid.
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela once publicly referred to Mozambican men as ‘wife stealing’ and King Goodwill Zwelethini allegedly said that foreigners should pack their bags and go home.
Another ridiculous notion made by the attackers is that foreigners are enriching themselves at the expense of South Africans, taking jobs that aren’t reserved for them.
The word they’re actually looking for is ‘survive’ and not ‘enriching’ as the majority of foreigners set up spaza shops and are forced to sell goods at prices lower than their worth in order to attract customers.
This means that they make a loss which results in a struggle to make ends meet. It should also be pointed out to these people that although actively seeking employment may not guarantee a job but is certainly more encouraging to prospective employees than looting shops.
There is little doubt that many have been left disappointed in the years since South Africa became a democracy with promises made by the government still unfulfilled and the deterioration of the unity we showed during Apartheid.
However, the return of xenophobic attacks has not only highlighted the failures of the new South Africa, but the blatant intolerance for people who aren’t like us has a disturbing resemblance to the past.
