Over 300 dead since ’90s in South Africa black-on-black violence

 By Charles Kumolu

Capture Analysis

Till date, most constitutional law scholars are unanimous in describing the South African constitution as the most humanist. 

This unanimity of perspectives ultimately speaks to how the 14-chapter constitution attaches prime importance to the right of humans rather than other matters. 

Despite being amended 17 times, the constitution which was promulgated in 1996 has not lost its humanist characteristics. For instance, its Bill of Rights which is contained in Chapter 2 covers the civil, political, economic, social and cultural human rights. 

Bill of Rights  

A perusal of the document by Sunday Vanguard found it not just aspirational but protectionist of the rights of persons. Put plainly, the Bill of Rights was found to promote the principles of humanism just the way it recognises the interrelationship between all human rights. So impressed by its letters, the author of Africa: the Altered States, Ordinary Miracles” Richard Dowden, described the constitution as the most humanist the world ever had. 

“In its transition from being the last Nazi-inspired political system of the twentieth century, South Africa produced the most humanist constitution the world had ever seen, guaranteeing personal freedoms but also protecting minority rights and the weak and the vulnerable. It aims to encourage the best in human beings while curbing their darker tendencies,” he stated in the book that was forwarded by Nigeria’s Prof Chinua Achebe. 

Xenophobia

Since xenophobia is now synonymous with South Africa irrespective of the spirit of its constitution, many are left with these questions: How did a country adjudged by many in 1994 as the hope of the human race, become emblematic of the paradox of human nature? 

Better still, how come the right to be protected against violence, freedom from torture, freedom from cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment, the right to bodily integrity, enshrined in Section 12, Chapter two of the constitution, give way to perennial xenophobic attacks?

 

Why are South Africans becoming the obstacles to achieving the principles and values espoused by their Bill of Rights? 

Sunday Vanguard believes a complex mix of factors is responsible. The same position is held by most people, who spoke to this newspaper on the matter, but South Africans appear not to see anything wrong in being xenophobic. 

To them, the attacks are justifiable manifestations against foreigners, who they blame for crimes and taking over their jobs. It is no news that such a notion enjoys the support of the country’s tribal leaders and public officials. 

Xenophobic tendencies  What is, however, noteworthy is the fact the post-apartheid South African state emerged with xenophobic tendencies and may remain so. 

To paraphrase Oluwasuen Tella of the Department of Political Science, the University of South Africa, xenophobia in South Africa, is pervasive and requires a conscious and comprehensive diagnosis at the individual, state and inter-state levels. 

Tracing the origin of anti-immigrant attitude to post-majority rule days in his work: Understanding Xenophobia in South Africa: The Individual, the State, and the International System, Tella maintained that the socioeconomic realities of most South Africans predispose them to be intolerant of foreigners. “Majority rule promised better opportunities and lives for all South Africans. 

However, the majority of black South Africans remain poor amidst growing unemployment. 

Given this reality, South Africans seek an avenue to channel their frustration and black foreigners are an easy target. “Individuals, ranging from the president to government officials, traditional rulers and ordinary citizens, exhibit xenophobic attitudes, express xenophobic statements, make xenophobic policies and embark on xenophobic attacks,” he added. Dealing with the same question in Africa: the Altered States, Ordinary Miracles, Dowden cited the country’s education system as being chiefly responsible for the widespread xenophobia in South Africa. 

Speaking specifically on the xenophobic attack of 2008, he observed that: “The problem lies deeper than racial redistribution. South Africa’s education system is not producing sufficient numbers of skilled people, especially black skilled people. 

Other Africans–Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, and Nigerians–were getting paid better paid, skilled jobs, as well as taking low paid ones. Frustration among the uneducated and unemployed grew. 

The anger was not dire targeted at whites but against fellow Africans.” Ever since the observation was made, the same indicators identified to be feeding the crisis are still there. 

Claimed 309  lives This perhaps accounts for the increasing perennial nature of the attacks which Xenowatch, said have claimed 309 lives between 1994 and 2018. 

A report by the platform that monitors xenophobic threats and violence across South Africa, seen by Sunday Vanguard, said 529 xenophobic incidents resulted in those number of deaths. 

The breakdown said 901 physical assaults took place, while 2,193  shops were looted leaving 100,000 displaced. 

The piece said xenophobic violence is increasingly spreading across South Africa’s nine provinces but listed Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal provinces as the most affected. The figures from the latest anti-immigrants attacks have already increased the statistics, amid fears of more incidents. 

At the moment the cost of the crisis which was said to have begun following a false report that a Nigerian killed a South African driver is being counted by survivors. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, last Thursday, said 10 people were killed, adding that two were foreigners. 

However, the President of Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, NICASA, Mr Ben Okoli, told Sunday Vanguard that the Nigerian community is currently ascertaining the quantum of loss. 

Okoli’s account of the incident and conversations with the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr Femi Adesina and a former diplomat, Olusegun Akinsanya shed light on various dimensions of the crisis. (Vanguard)