By now we have all heard about the anti foreigner violence in SA.
This is indeed very sad, however signs of this were long coming (a burning here, a murder there) and the Government of South Africa looked on until this eruption. The saddest part is that they are attacking Africans from the same countries that supported the fight aginst apartheid. I as a Nigerian know how the hurt of the injustice in South Africa occupied a deep place in the consciousness of our entire nation and that was the one issue the Nigerian Government never dragged its feet about. Firm support in lobbying at every possible level, cash and kind was given to the ANC, indeed President Thabo Mbeki was a guest of the Nigerian Govt at Ahmadu Bello University when my relatives were lecturers there. Some Naija school kids donated thier pocket money to fight apartheid, neibouring countries sheltered anc fighters and exiles and now this...
This is indeed very sad, however signs of this were long coming (a burning here, a murder there) and the Government of South Africa looked on until this eruption. The saddest part is that they are attacking Africans from the same countries that supported the fight aginst apartheid. I as a Nigerian know how the hurt of the injustice in South Africa occupied a deep place in the consciousness of our entire nation and that was the one issue the Nigerian Government never dragged its feet about. Firm support in lobbying at every possible level, cash and kind was given to the ANC, indeed President Thabo Mbeki was a guest of the Nigerian Govt at Ahmadu Bello University when my relatives were lecturers there. Some Naija school kids donated thier pocket money to fight apartheid, neibouring countries sheltered anc fighters and exiles and now this...
We are now the enemy. Zimbabweans, Somalians, Mozambicans... the list goes on... supposedly responsible for taking thier jobs, raising the cost of food and committing crimes even though the law enforcement agencies have (now) come out to say foreigners are responsible for only 2 - 3% of crime in South Africa.
The PR triumph of the Rainbow Nation has obviously concealed deepening inequality and poverty of the majority who are now lashing out at the nearest scapegoats... Black Africans...Mirror images of themselves.
Now that it is an embarrassment capable of denting its National image and internal stability perhaps the SA Govt will now do more to address the immeadiate and underlying causes of the crisis and its effects... Though I do realise controling situations in other countries like Zimbabwe which has foisted 3 million refugees on SA is impossible, in the face of this mess, trying is not an option, its a necessity.
African leaders must do better. Africans should do better.
For more read the following links
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnBAN928966.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/200805190001.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080518/ap_on_re_af/south_africa_immigrant_attacks
The PR triumph of the Rainbow Nation has obviously concealed deepening inequality and poverty of the majority who are now lashing out at the nearest scapegoats... Black Africans...Mirror images of themselves.
Now that it is an embarrassment capable of denting its National image and internal stability perhaps the SA Govt will now do more to address the immeadiate and underlying causes of the crisis and its effects... Though I do realise controling situations in other countries like Zimbabwe which has foisted 3 million refugees on SA is impossible, in the face of this mess, trying is not an option, its a necessity.
African leaders must do better. Africans should do better.
For more read the following links
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnBAN928966.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/200805190001.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080518/ap_on_re_af/south_africa_immigrant_attacks
