From Hate to Love: Black South Africans and the Xenophobia Project

Abstract

After the 2015 attack on foreign nationals in South Africa, the 2017 outbreak of xenophobic violence attracted wide condemnation across the globe. The image of the South Africa government was put in the global limelight as African migrants and foreigners were attacked in their various locations in the country. A sizeable number of South Africans, especially in the academic community, rose against the attack of African migrants. Anti-xenophobic protests were organized in South African cities with government officials in attendance in a bid to dissociate the state from the attacks. Despite this, South Africa’s foreign relations with some African countries was strained as anti-South African sentiments dominated discourse in the international media and fora. This chapter engages with the spate of xenophobic attacks and contends with the reasons adduced to have sparked the violence. While people have attributed the attacks to series of developments, it is discovered that prejudices against black foreigners have degenerated into deep-hatred. The chapter argued that this has blurred the comparative advantages and benefits of a cooperative and collaborative neighbourliness. The chapter reveals that black South Africans would benefit more from their follow foreigners through collaboration towards the development of a robust informal sector of the economy. Black foreigners, equipped with artisan skills could train and share their knowledge with their South African counterparts with a view to boosting participation in the informal sector of the economy. This will therefore transform the prejudiced hatred to love and cooperation for mutual benefits rather than the incessant violent attacks that deepens the scars of resentment between the immigrants and locals.