I do not think it is sufficient to attribute ignorance as the chief cause of the Xenophobic outbreak trending in South Africa. This is a poor diagnosis of the situation as the waters run very much deeper than a general lack of information on South Africa's history with it's neighbouring countries on the continent. Although one can effectively argue how poor education needs to be addressed it is only but one of the many other socioeconomic issues which fertilizes the seeds of savagery to sprout forth. It is ignorant to not perceive and diagnose the outbreak in it's proper context. It is ignorant to assume that the perpetrators are just derelicts who would repent if they could just attend a quick crash course on SA exiles during Apartheid. Such a line of thought is void of an understanding on SA's history on Xenophobia and other crimes relating to diversity. It also divorces the problem from its people- for education alone has not always proven to be the sole anecdote to poverty.
By trying to understand Xenophobia we do not by any means try and look for grounds for it's justification. It's a process we undergo to understand the stage our young democracy is going through. A democracy which hails itself in it's constitution as a non-racial and non-sexist society, but still exerts its patriarchy at the expense of innocent lives. South Africa asserts itself as patriarchal when it doesn't tolerate other ethnic groups. South Africa asserts itself as patriarchal when it doesn't tolerate people of other sexual groups. Corrective rape and hate crimes are still social evils destroying lives in our young democracy. Whether its Homophobia or Xenophobia, both aren't taken seriously until an outbreak occurs. A proper understanding of such phobias will lead to a more proactive rather than reactionary approach in dealing with their crippling effects.
It is the audacity of a people to disregard the rule of law and commit gross violations of human rights, that really gets one's blood boiling. An injustice unto death is one that is to be condemned with much passion. South Africa as a society is not consistent in it's solidarity against human rights violations. The same religious institutions which are vocally preaching 'SAYNO2Xenophobia' take a different tone and condone Homophobia by doing nothing when other lives are being endangered under similar auspices.
If we are still tolerant of derogatory terms in reference to foreigners- we are as Xenophobic as those looting foreign owned businesses. The seeds of such outbreaks have long being sowed and watered as we view them as 'barbarians' everytime we refer to foreigners as 'kwerekweres', that should be strongly discouraged. If our speech is so oppressive- why do her actions bewilder her?
The deep rooted issues behind the frustrated perpetrators shaming South Africa are clouded and have to do with more than just 'ignorance'. Xenophobia has broken out before under our young democracy so blaming a Zulu King's utterance is naïve. If the socio economic issues and patriarchial mindset society has, can consistently and pro actively be addressed in times of peace and turmoil, an appreciation of black and gay lives can be envisaged in the name of... Oh... Uhm... What is vogue nowadays? Equality!
#SAYNO2EveryPhobia
Aluta continua.
Plethora of narratives from the eyes of those who face and think about their experiences
Spot on!!! I actually can't get over this view!
ReplyDeleteI beg to differ here and there... there is a lot of ignorance within our South African domain; ignorance of the history of our continent at large than a mere relational history, once we begin to understand history, only then can we tolerate one another (I will speak on the issue of Afrophobia as I accede it cannot be branded as Xenphobia if it is only Blacks that are targeted)
ReplyDeleteI agree, it would be ignorant to reduce these barbaric actions to that of exiled Apartheid history, I think we need to understand beyond that; essentially the history of European's scramble for Africa (that gives us a holistic view of this issue which plagues both you and I). That, to me, is the proper context as a point of departure.
how patriarchy an Afrophobia link defeats me in this article because the pertinent issue is not that of male dominance or alpha-male qualities it is that of humanity degenerating. furthermore I think certain people need to understand the influence they have on others (Zwelithini in this regard) it is sad to note that a mere utterance has revived what has happened before in 2008 (due to utterance even then) so the issue here is indeed ignorance. but the ignorance, for me, is grounded on the lack of history taught to our people; it is ignorance on a grand scale.
Thank you for your comment Thabo
DeleteI do not want to get into whether it is Xenophobia or Afrophobia- to me it is a phobia either way but your point is well captured there.
I am also quite appreciative of your perspective in its historical context. I do agree that it is to be considered if we are going to adopt a holistic view.
The notion of patriarchy is quite pertinent in my view Thabo in understanding the lines our society is organized by. This is part of a contextual interpretation of the situation. If you listen to the interviews and grasp the views the perpetrators are expressing-you will perhaps understand how they find primitive justifications for their immoral actions. "They are taking our women" "They are stealing our jobs" ... these are the sentiments of those exerting these attacks. These are sentiments of one who feels he has to react because his so-called 'right to being a man' is being violated. Similiar notions are raised when hate crimes and corrective rape is being carried out. The traditionalist view of a male orientated society is being enforced as there is still no tolerance for gays and lesbians. These views and sentiments lead to a degeneration of humanity and that is how Xenophobia/Afrophobia/Homophobia and Patriarchy is linked (I will happily give you sources if you arent satisfied with how ive tried to summarise it).
Furthermore Thabo, Goodwill has said some things in the past that people have disregarded before. he doesnt wield absolute power over his people although he is influential. My point is that people have long been sitting with these resolutions and the outbreak isnt as sporadic as
'His majesty said we must kick you guys out so we are now doing that because he said so and we dont really want to do this but we have to because he is our ruler you know'.
There is an ideology that the perpetrators have. Quite frankly, they are quite informed of the history of our country and it is reported that they feel like South Africa does not have a moral debt towards foreign nationals and they refuse to let that deter their ways. So the belief that all it takes to stop the outbreak is a mere crash course on how colonialism separated Africa isnt about to make them drop their axes.(Again, i can give you sources for my assertions)
Do you feel Zwelithini is ignorant of the scramble for Africa? He is the MALE HEAD of a people, do you not find his utterances typical of a PATRIARCH? :)