Xenophobic attacks in South Africa

Africa, despite its rich history, lags behind other continents. One can conveniently say that instead of evolving, the continent is devolving.

Any country that pursues development must first be responsible before she can expect her citizens to be receptive. Responsibility appreciates plurality and diversity which in turn advances the rights and civilisation of the people. Civilisation comes about where there is the elevation of people’s interest over the interest of a few selfish people who put money before people.

Many have blamed the Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa for doing nothing amidst xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreign nationals in that country. I find this accusation beyond my ken. What should he do? Teach South Africans truth which they should know? Teach a bunch of new generation thugs in South Africa that have failed to search for knowledge and truth? Buddha, Baba Muktananda, Mother Teresa went to great lengths, to seek truth. No wonder they all described themselves as citizens of the world and their evolved souls and glowing lights impacted millions if not billions of people.

The South African Government is responsible for these attacks which have become one too many and instead of punishing the culprits, they engage in diplomatic sorties just for its sake.

Are xenophobic attacks new in our world? In London, May 1, 1517, mobs viciously attacked European immigrants from France, Italy and The Netherlands. Foreigners had no place to run to as they were surrounded and bivouacked – away from areas of comfort.

These immigrants were accused of stealing the livelihoods of Londoners by competing with the craftsmen and London merchants of the day.

How do Nigerians compete with most black South Africans who do nothing? Many blacks unlike in London of that era who aren’t craftsmen and merchants? They “buy cotton”(phrase for doing nothing) and lack capacity for anything.

How can people who do nothing expect to be given a stately peerage?

Nigeria does not manufacture anything that is of competing interest with what is produced inside South Africa. How then are Nigerians stealing South African jobs? Buying and selling does not develop the economy of a country to the scale people imagine. All Nigerians do is buy and sell in South Africa. How is that a threat to the livelihoods of a country’s citizens?

The South African Government headed by Jacob Zuma of the African National Congress is complicit because they know who the masterminds of these attacks are but have chosen to do nothing.

In the London era mentioned above, John Lincoln, a broker consorted with a cleric, Dr. Bele, who in his capacity as a preacher incited his followers against foreigners and the goods they imported into London from Europe and products they made in London which competed with theirs.

The government quickly imposed a curfew and curfew-breakers were dispersed with canons fired into the city when fighting flared. Lincoln and Bele were tried for treason for upsetting relations with Europe. Lincoln, the instigator, and some of the rioters were subsequently hanged. It took the intervention of The King’s wife to save 5,000 other rioters (for the sake of their wives and children) from having dates with the hangman’s halter.

How responsible is the South African Government to the safety of Africans in that country?

Nigerians do not go about mocking citizens of their host country neither do they seize the wives of citizens of their host country like they do in the medieval times.

If in the 16th century era, leaders were aware of the dangers of not allowing xenophobia to fester, why is South Africa a rallying point for xenophobia in Africa?

Simon Abah, Port Harcourt

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