Mob violence against immigrants in South Africa
The Times reports some bad news from South Africa. Immigrants there, particularly those hailing from Zimbabwe, have been targets of attacks by South Africans (whose grievances sound familiar, though of course they're being expressed more disastrously):
[H]undreds of Zimbabweans and other foreigners fled their homes in Alexandra, a teeming crime-ridden township, on Sunday and Monday to escape xenophobic attacks. Some hid in the nearby bush or in police compounds.
"They were saying, 'Go back to Zimbabwe, we don't want to see you here, you're taking our jobs,'" [immigrant Isaac] Moyo said Tuesday. "They said, 'Go back to [Zimbabwean President Robert] Mugabe.' They took everything, saying, 'You didn't get this from Mugabe; this is our property.' "...[S]ome township dwellers who believe that Mugabe is a cruel leader say it is because of something innately cruel in Zimbabwe's society. They tend to blame South Africa's high crime rate on the influx of Zimbabweans.
As the article notes, 100 foreigners were injured and at least two people were killed. Zimbabweans trying to escape economic woes and violence in their country have entered South Africa by the hundreds of thousands. Many of them work for a few dollars a day, and are adding to the burdens of a country which already suffers 40% unemployment.
The mass migration was already creating problems for South African President Thabo Mbeke, who has been attempting to influence Mugabe with a "quiet diplomacy" rather than denouncing outright his human rights abuses and political power grabbing. The violence may make his position more precarious.
For more on the politics between the two countries, and a debate over whether Mbeke is right to be "quiet" on Mugabe, see New Republic assistant editor James Kirchick's Op-Ed, "South Africa's unseemly alliance" and Philip L. Christenson's Blowback response, "Defending Thabo Mbeke."
Interestingly it is black South Africans attacking black foreigners in South Africa.
Posted by: F. Campo | October 06, 2009 at 01:39 AM
I think the South Africans should not treat the Zimbabwean immigrants in such a harsh approach.As neighbors they should be united especially during these times of economic woes in Zimbabwe!!!!!!The should also note that one day it will be them who need assistance from Zimbabwe be it politically,socially or economically.
Posted by: Ceasar Sitiya | October 05, 2009 at 05:32 AM
Historic tension, discrimination and hatred between blacks and whites, now an illegal-undocumented-alien issue. We are talking about SOUTH AFRICA, not the U.S., right?
Posted by: edwina | May 23, 2008 at 08:00 AM
South Africa seems to be a country with very unusual human beings, you meet a white guy he is racist you meet a black guy he has a gun under his shirt. South Africa should be isolated and no World CUP in 2010, imagine a reggae star was shot for nothing not for his expensive car or wallet-nothing.
Posted by: Joel, Malawi, C Africa | May 22, 2008 at 03:39 PM
What does Mr. Philip L. Christenson have to say now? Is Mbeki still brilliant? The only thing he seems to be brilliant at is
doing nothing and telling his people as little as possible. Now the crisis has reared its ugly head in the heart of South Africa, instead of
at the borders as was anticipated. Now there are areas that look like warzones from the apartheid era, and refugee camps in the
middle of cities. Oh yes! A hearty well done to Mr. Mbeki and his cronies!
It may finally be the beginning of the end for him... and it won't come soon enough. The man is an idiot who has misjudged the situation.
He has lost control of his party and is clearly out of touch with his own people. It need not be said that a diplomat who cannot communicate
with the masses he represents is a rather poor one.
Posted by: Rafa | May 20, 2008 at 04:11 AM