Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Johannesburg (Agenzia Fides) - South Africa continues its investigation regarding the violence that has targeted immigrants, defined by President Thabo Mbeki as “an absolute disgrace” and acts of “an unprecedented inhumanity.” Is it a wave of xenophobia that expresses the desperation of a people suffering from the dramatic conditions in the cities? Is it the work of criminal groups? Are we facing a political effort to influence the presidential elections schedules for 2009 or an attempt to do some “cleaning up” in preparation for the World Cup 2010?
The South African press is asking questions, but it is difficult to offer a response. Even the number of immigrants present in the country is unknown. According to Parliament’s Department of Home Affairs, there are 4 million immigrants, of whom 40,000 are refugees. Other sources, however, say that this number is higher: between 6 to 6.5 million foreigners.
The wave of violence that has struck Johannesburg and that has later spread to areas of Durban and Cape Town, has not only targeted foreigners. Even citizens of South African ethnic background have been victims of attacks by armed groups, that many witnesses say are organized. Some local politicians refer to the violence as being an attempt to “make an inter-ethnic conflict erupt,” a virus that could destroy the country. It is a virus that could be introduced by someone interested in securing the upcoming governmental elections, the head of the nation’s Intelligence Agency (see Fides 23/5/2008).
If there was anyone interested in fomenting conflict, they have found the perfect place here in these cities. According to local press reports, South Africans still suffer the effects of the infamous Apartheid. A Mozambique immigrant living in South Africa for 9 years was interviewed by the “Mail and Guardian” and mentioned that “South African black people do not know Africa. They have been isolated by the apartheid and have a terrible inferiority complex. They think that our skin is too dark and they call us ‘Amakwerekwere.’” The immigrants, especially those from Zimbabwe are much more enterprising than the South Africans: they speak excellent English (and are thus preferred by employers) and have a strong entrepreneurial spirit. The relative economic success of these people has created resentment among South Africa’s poorest populations. But is that enough to cause the violence? It does not seem likely, if it can be proven that the assaults are caused by organized gangs and that the police at first seemed unable to control the violence. Verification of this was even announced by secret services.
If there is a “third party” that remains unknown, as the head of Intelligence said in referring to the efforts to destabilize the nation that were made by the leaders of the Apartheid regime in 1994, in the movement towards democracy, there is a need for the political powers to take a clear and firm position. The condemnation declared by President Mbeki is only the beginning, an initial act that will need to be followed by others, as has been required in other African nations (like Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo).
The wave of violence has caused 50 deaths, hundreds of wounded, and 35,000 evacuees, of whom 15,000 are Mozambicans who have returned to their country. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 26/5/2008; righe 43, parole 539)
