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Xenophobic Violence Recurrent in South Africa: Mandela Must Be Turning in His Grave
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso /Culture & Society

Xenophobic Violence Recurrent in South Africa: Mandela Must Be Turning in His Grave

From Le Pays · (17m ago) French Critical tone

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Xenophobic violence against foreigners is escalating in South Africa, with incidents including the destruction of vehicles, warehouses, and shops.
  • Migrants are being targeted in a manhunt, with cities like Johannesburg and Pretoria becoming dangerous for foreigners accused of taking jobs.
  • The South African government is criticized for its slow and seemingly indifferent response to the escalating xenophobia, with accusations of complicity due to delayed reactions and few prosecutions.

The recurring xenophobic violence in South Africa is a stain on the nation's reputation, a betrayal of the ideals Nelson Mandela championed. Foreigners, who once found refuge and opportunity here, are now being hunted like animals. Our own citizens, driven by economic hardship and a government seemingly incapable of addressing it, are perpetrating these heinous acts.

In South Africa, foreigners are increasingly being hunted like wild animals.

— Le PaysThe article's opening statement describing the xenophobic climate.

It is deeply troubling that it took international pressure, specifically from Ghana, for Pretoria to even acknowledge the crisis. This delayed reaction, coupled with the minimal number of prosecutions for such egregious acts, raises serious questions about the government's commitment to protecting all residents. The high unemployment rate of 32% is a critical issue, but scapegoating foreigners is not the solution. This is a failure of governance, a dereliction of duty by Cyril Ramaphosa's administration.

The South African government seems to care about these recurring xenophobic violence issues as little as a flea.

— Le PaysCriticism of the government's inaction.

We, at Le Pays, believe that South Africa's past struggles for liberation, supported by many African nations, should not be forgotten. To turn against our African brothers and sisters now, accusing them of stealing jobs while our own government fails to provide for its people, is a tragic irony. Mandela's legacy is being tarnished by this wave of violence. His successors seem incapable of upholding the inclusive vision he fought for. The images of armed groups chasing migrants are not only brutal but also damage the image of the 'Rainbow Nation' we aspire to be.

If this is not complicity, it strongly resembles it, especially since this reaction comes nearly a month after the events began.

— Le PaysExpressing suspicion about the government's delayed response.

This situation is uniquely painful from a Burkinabe perspective, as we have seen our own citizens seek opportunities abroad and face similar challenges. The failure of the South African government to act decisively not only harms the victims but also sends a message of impunity. We urge the Ramaphosa regime to take immediate and decisive action to end this xenophobia and restore the dignity and safety of all who live in South Africa.

The person responsible for the widespread misery affecting many South African households is none other than the South African government, apparently incapable of meeting the socio-economic needs of its most vulnerable class.

— Le PaysAttributing the root cause of the problem to government failure.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Pays in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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