EDITORIAL: XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS ARE THE RESULTS OF GOVERNMENT FAILURE

The outbreak of violence in Gauteng’s cities of Sunnyside, Malvern, Hillbrow, Tembisa and more recently Alexandra are the direct results of the South African government’s failure to deal with socio-economic crisis of poverty, unemployment, inequality and drug abuse.

South Africa is in a crisis and if not addressed adequately and effectively a ticking time bomb is ready to explode.

This is not the first time xenophobic attacks have spread in the country. More than 10 years ago in 2008 xenophobic attacks started in Alexandra and over 50 000 people were displaced from their homes and about 60 people lost their lives. Almost 5 years ago in 2015, 7 people believed to be foreign nationals also lost their lives.

Foreign nationals are seen as competition for scare jobs and government services. The root course for the sporadic acts of violence and looting is unemployment. People are desperate and will do anything to put food in their mouth.

More than 25 years coming into to power the governing African National Congress (ANC) has not addressed the pressing issue of unemployment. South Africa has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the world at 29%.

According to the World Bank in 2017 the South African population was 56,72 million people. My estimation is that the population now is way more than the figure. They are a lot of migrants that are undocumented in metropolitan areas.

In the Johannesburg CBD for example, where a spate of violence broke out my observation is that there’s actually more migrants from other African countries than South Africans. On Monday widespread violence mainly targeted at Nigerians broke out. It saw the distraction of 50 mainly foreign owned businesses. Cars and properties were torched with widespread looting taking place.

The unrest reportedly started in Pretoria CBD last week when a taxi driver was shot and murdered by a Nigerian foreign national for questioning why he was selling drugs to a child. The drug abuse in major cities is evident of the current administration’s failure. Nyaope is a killer of many dreams and future of youth. There’s no sense of urgency in the government’s part with dealing with the scourge. Some police officials entrusted to protect and serve the community take bribes from drug lords. Drug Lords and drug dens are known by the authorities but nothing is done.

The ANC Government has failed to manage borders, Home Affairs Officials are known to take bribes and allow country access to undocumented migrants.

The ANC Government has failed to deal with the Nyaope epidemic.

The ANC Government has failed to deal with unemployment and poverty.

The education is dismal making people see violence as the only solution.

At the time of publishing the President of the ANC and South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa did not say anything exacerbating the xenophobia and looting. The silence from the head of state is deafening.

The Secretary General of the ANC Ace Magashule described the violence as “unacceptable “ and added “We condemn this violence which is taking place, irrespective of whatever reasons people want to give,” he said. Magashule obviously neglected or failed to probe the “reasons “ why people are doing what they are doing.

To avoid the time bomb to explode the government should have stricter border controls. Migrants must be accurately classified as asylum seekers, working permit or studying permit? Foreign nationals should not be allowed to stay in the country indefinitely as this is putting pressure on the already scarce resources.

Most importantly the Government should resolve the high and increasing unemployment rate…otherwise, kusazo shuba!

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position or any policy of KAE News, it’s publishing company and any of its agencies.

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