XENOPHOBES IN SOUTH AFRICA: MATTERS ARISING

BY TEMITOPE ADEBAYO
In recent developments, the unpalatable event unfolding in South African society especially as regards the renewed spate of xenophobic attacks on innocent black migrants in the predominantly Zulus’ municipalities is unfortunately regrettable. Sadly enough, that fellow black African migrants most especially Nigerians, Zimbabweans, Malawians, Kenyans e.t.c could be the favourite targets of this melodramatic and psychopathically motivated South Africans’ xenophobic attacks is nothing but a shameful development that should be condemned by all in all ramification. As a matter of fact, that human lives could be viciously cut short in a manner akin to crudest barbarity just because of unsubstantiated allegation of high crime rate and increased joblessness of the citizenry, erroneously believed to have been occasioned by the high influx of black migrants in that political landscape is pathetically worrisome. And this, no doubt inimically constitutes a grave danger to the sanctity and dignity of human life in that community hence, it should attract the immediate interventional action of concerned stakeholders. By implication therefore, if this unpleasant trend is left to fester on for a long time without appropriately nipping it in the bud as a matter of utmost exigency, it could easily degenerate to a deep catastrophe. A terribly humanitarian crisis, that if not properly managed could consequently result in a monumental threat to black foreigners’ continual existence in that clime. By extension, it can also set a bad precedent in the world over, thereby giving South Africa and its intolerant indigenes a bad name in the global scheme of things. In point of fact, that an orgy of violence could be ferociously unleashed by the South Africans’ aborigines on their fellow black foreigners just because of an unthinkable xenophobic idiosyncrasy remains amazingly incomprehensible. Therefore, as an apt reactionary response, the constituted authorities should act with an immediate alacrity especially with a view not only to arrest this ugly situation but also to summarily bring it under control before its further escalation.
Indeed, I could vividly reminiscent with deep nostalgia the critical role Nigerian government played as a big brother of African Continent especially towards seeing to the end of the emancipation struggle and the abrogation of apartheid in the beleaguered South African nation. Ironically today, about 23 years after the triumphant victory of forces of the light over the forces of the darkness in the Southern African enclave, all Nigeria deserves from its South Africa counterpart for the vital role it played against that repressively notorious regime is nothing but a ridiculously xenophobic attacks on its innocent citizens domicile in that country. This indeed calls for a deep reflection because; apparently this is akin to nothing but a situation of biting the hand that fed you. Although, the fact that South Africa is undisputedly the epicenter of business hub and investment destination of the African Continent that attracts all and sundry particularly people of other African extraction to its cosmopolitan’s cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria e.t.c cannot be overemphasized. Essentially, this assertion owes it to the fact that the beautiful country is not only politically stable but also economically buoyant. As a matter of fact, it has about the best economy in African. However, all of a sudden, all these aesthetic grandeur and exemplary qualities associated with the country is gradually fizzling away owing to this unfortunate act of xenophobic attacks rabidly perpetrated by its people against their fellow black African brothers. Indeed, for a fellow African brother to maliciously attack his fellow African brothers with the evil intention to harm him/her just because of an irrational xenophobic thought is tantamount to nothing but man inhumanity to humanity.

While it is an incontrovertible fact that South African aborigines had suffered untold agony from the repressive apartheid regime meted against them by the white colonial masters that illegally occupied their land, that notwithstanding is not a justifiable reason for them to be aggressively wild against their fellow black brothers. Worse still, that they find it quite pleasurable going berserk at every slightest provocation unleashing in the process wanton destruction of properties and total annihilation of preciously innocent souls of fellow  black African brothers just because of a mere frivolous incitement emanating from some of their irresponsible leaders calls for a deep thought. Essentially, it is ruefully sad that the genesis of this arrant absurdity (xenophobia) in the South African society could be retrospectively traced to hateful statements recklessly rendered by some of their illustrious sons and eminently placed personalities in that society. Evidently, it would be vividly recall that in 2015, an uncouth statement credited to the revered king Zulu that: black immigrants should leave South Africa because their stay in the country was constituting a huge unemployment challenge to the citizens resulted in xenophobic attacks which claimed scores of innocent black foreigner lives before it was reactively brought under control by its government. Furthermore, as if that was not enough, another statement of sedition recently emanated from ‘Herman Mashaba’, the mayor of Johannesburg that: black foreigners domicile in South Africa are responsible for the increase in criminal activities in the city also escalated to the recent abysmal extermination of innocent black migrants violently perpetrated by these blood-thirsty South African xenophobes. Put succinctly, it is now crystal clear more than ever before at this juncture, that the ill-conceived notion that the industrious black migrants have not only taken away the South Africans’ jobs but also, that their further stay in the country is constituting to the huge security challenge presently being experience in that clime, being fallaciously propagated by some uncivilized South African leadership, is apparently responsible for this regrettable experience in that society. Hence, this must be appropriately dealt with as a matter of an urgent issue going forward.

Against this dysfunctional backdrop therefore, it must be noted that this brutal act of man inhumanity against humanity gleefully perpetrated by South African blacks against their fellow black migrants is a wake call to all the prominent world leaders especially the United Nations (UN) leadership to take the bull by the horn with a view to rising up to this shamefully barbaric situation that has tagged South Africans as unrepentant xenophobes who are always eager to unleash violent attack on black migrants at any slightest provocation. To this end, it is indeed a commendable initiative that Nigerian government in the wake of this resurgent attack on its citizens, have sent a high powered delegation to the South African parliament with a view to unraveling the immediate and the remote cause of this preposterous act, so as to have a firsthand information in order to better advice its citizens domicile in that volatile country on the way forward, particularly with regard to the incessant xenophobic attacks on them. Unfortunately, while the Nigerian government is busy making this plausibly diplomatic effort geared towards evolving an amicable panacea that will bring about a lasting end to this current embarrassing situation, however, it appears the South African government on the other hand is unperturbed about this ugly development. Especially that this can be obviously deduced judging by its indifference body language and lacklustre attitude geared toward curbing once and for all this devilish act deeply rooted in its country, particularly given that it has happened repeatedly at three different occasions: 2008, 2015 and 2017.
In the light of the foregoing therefore, it is essentially germane that the South African government should stop playing a mere rhetorical game of condemnation and wake up from its slumber with a view to confronting head on this unpalatable development capable of given its beloved country a bad name in the comity of United Nations. Against this unpleasant background, it should be noted that a holistic interventional action to put an end once and for all to this dastardly act of xenophobic attacks that has become endemically ingrained in the South African society is to first of all label it an extra judicial killing. Hence, this will allow the police not only to investigate, arrest but also prosecute accordingly within the purview of the law of the land any person, individual or a group of individuals no matter how highly placed in the society that must have played any untoward role in this mind bugling xenophobic attack on black migrants. Thus, should South African government expressly formulate and implement this law to the fullest with scape-goats not only seen to be prosecuted but also convicted. Apparently, this punitive measure will prevent any further xenophobic attacks in the future as it would definitely send a strong warning signal to any hardnosed xenophobes who may be nursing a potential attack on black foreigners at any given slightest opportunity. Therefore, it would no longer be business as usual as it will be clear cut going forward, that such act of lawlessness is no longer fashionable in that clime as offenders would be appropriately sanction according to the dictates of the law of the land.