As expected, the unrest has spread to other Provinces, Mpumalanga, and KZN (so far). In Gauteng it has also spread to other areas, and has moved into formal settlements. The army is said to have been deployed. I agree with the opposition, this move should have come at least a week ago, but better late than never?
It’s cyclical, this xenophobia. I honestly think it’s an integral part of human psyche (not just African), and will continue unless, by some miracle, we change our social outlook as a species. Name a country, I guarantee there are waves of xenophobia that ebb and flow.
It was pretty interesting sitting at work today and overhearing some colleagues say “viva, viva! those jobs will be ours” in isiZulu. No, I don’t kuluma, but I do understand bits and pieces. And usually have no problem understanding tone and intent. Then again, maybe I’m just being paranoid?
It’s interesting to see the ‘good work’ is being rewarded: thousands of mozambicans are leaving the country, as are zimbabweans. Many are happy because they believe this opens up opportunities for them. And it may well do so. For a while.
I do not dispute that there are valid concerns in SA around jobs, prosperity, development, inclusion. It is this resorting to the same old ineffective temporary solution: violence and expulsion of that which is competition, that I object to. Anyone who offers up ‘frustration, etc.’ as valid reasons for the violence meted out is simply seeking to satisfy blood lust. Once the righteous blood lust is satisfied, then what? You wake up to a country with a ruined economy and capital flight (with all the attendant job loss, all this before factoring in the rising interest rates and the global recession – cue Kenny Rogers’ “you picked a fine time…”). You are now regarded suspiciously in circles where you were previously busy telling people what “they must do” to pull off the miracle you pulled off. (Then again, this seems to be the year that we explore our base nature?) Nothing good comes of violence. Look everywhere it has been wrought. Actually, look no further than south africa itself.
There will always be backlash, someone who wants vengeance. Then again, since SA is hell-bent on following the rutted African failed state trajectory, they would do well to study the history of such forced migrations (leaving out, for a moment, that many of those foreigners who’ve been repelled were also forced migrants).
Back when botswana was but a backwater (ok, economically), and zimbabwe was successful and sexy, batswana were not very well treated in zimbabwe. Now that the tables are turned (and if there is one thing we can confidently put one storey below death and taxes as inevitable, it’s that tables do turn) zimbabweans hardly get much love in botswana. Remember when kenya got busy deporting ugandan teachers? Wonder how kenyan refugees there are now being treated.
At work we’ve been talking through how to re-organize next week’s work because these attacks will have some impact on planned activities. A colleague says to me “you can pass for south african, you’re not too dark, and you can pretend that you’re deaf and mute.” Can I just say, at the risk of sounding vulgar, that I just love this!? What do I mean? I love that innocence and flippancy that comes with the utter security that it is the other, not you, who is at risk.
Ofcourse out of all this death and destruction will come a new dawn. Many of us will have gained a better appreciation for human life and human nature. Many others will retain their innocence and flippancy. One thing is sure though, at another time, another place, today’s victims will be in a position to say:
