This week’s Talkback question on the Mail & Guardian Online:
The rise of xenophobia: Is the govt supporting foreigners at the expense of locals?
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The rise of xenophobia: Is the govt supporting foreigners at the expense of locals?
59 Responses to “The rise of xenophobia: Is the govt supporting foreigners at the expense of locals?”
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June 17, 2008
[...] are two blog links. One is to Talkback, where users are encouraged to debate a question on the topic. This has provoked 50 comments. The [...]
What is there not to understand? Here are a few more questions.
With only 4 million taxpayers out of 55 million and 50% unemployment, how can this country be expected to support another 3 or 4 million foreigners, more than the entire white population and taxpaying population?
Taxation for white business owners already exceeds 100%, how can we be expected to support our neighbours as well?
If a person votes certain politicians into power why must they have the option of running away when those politicians do the predictable thing? Why are they not expected to stay in their country and reap the whirlwind which they have sown? Again Mugabe has been given a lifeline simply because almost 50 % of Zimbabweans voted for him YET ANOTHER TIME, whilst we have almost 3 million Zimbabwean which now have to be supported by the SA citizen.
Politicians in South Africa are constantly and frantically legislating every white owned asset in South Africa so that they can legitimate the theft of it, ostensibly to give to the “poor” who do not have enough housing, jobs, food, etc. yet the black population is increasing at the rate of 1 million per year. How is the harboring and nationalizing of foreigners going to improve this situation?
Again the dim-witted Politically Correct are meddling with issues which they do not understand, only to bail out when things go wrong – AS THEY WILL.
One of the issues that is prone to sensationalism is the number of Zimbabweans who are in South Africa (legally and illegaly). The number seems to fluctuate between 2 and 4 million. The difference represents the population of a large city
Does anyone have an accurate number or is it all pure speculation.
How can government even hope to deal with a problem when they have no idea as to how big it is ?…… that is a rhetorical question.
I absolutely lay the blame for this crisis at the feet of Mbeki’s quiet diplomacy.African leaders are there own worst enemies, so constrained by returning favours of the past, that they are inefectual in dealing with any multi-national issues (let alone home grown ones). This problem has been coming for years,xenophobic attacks are not new. why must we always wait for the pot to boil over before we turn off the gas?
I am so conflicted by this issue. On the one hand i understand the reasons for these attacks, even though they are bad ones, and yet i cannot understand why violence is seen as an accurate response.I think its about time people started taking responsibility for their own situations, and stopped blaming foreigners, and yet i am so angry that the government has done nothing to curb the influx of illegal immigrants, rising crime rates (could they get any higher)and poverty.
Unfortunately humanitarian crises in other countries are being placed above the needs and concerns of our own people, and yet as a nation of survivors (which we should start thinking of ourselves as, not as victims)we should do everything in its power to liberate victims of oppressive regimes.
Perhaps this crisis will be a catalyst for serious change regarding, immigration policies, job creation and crime.
I experienced it first hand in Helen Joseph Hospital where I was queing with my gardener to get him on the treatment programme, and a bus full of foreighers arrived and were helped immediately. We had to return another day.
Not just government but business as well. They want poorer people who are prepared to work for even less than our own poor people. As for our government does anyone know anyone who knows what they actually do? Or do they do everything badly and quietly?
As shocking as this wave of violence has apparently been to some, it is naive to suggest that South Africa was a ‘peaceful’ country prior to 12 May 2008 (as much of the international press has indeed suggested). Despite the ‘successful’ transition to democracy in the mid 90s, South Africa, in many respects, remains a country in conflict.
Having lived in South Africa for three years — including Soweto, Wentworth (DBN), the Durban City Centre, and Glenwood (DBN) — it seems to me that both the indigent and the working class in South Africa are largely displeased with the way things are going.
I have read that South Africa has more protest actions (per person) than any other nation, excluding China. Also, the problem of violent crime in South Africa (e.g. hijacking, rape, home burglary, robbery, etc) is well documented, and has contributed to many South Africans leaving to create a life elsewhere.
I think it is clear that these ‘xenophobic attacks’ are just another side to this relative deprivation story in South Africa, in which ‘the poors’ have grown tired of waiting for their daily standard of living to improve. If you’re not convinced, I suggest visiting a shack settlement for a few weeks and experiencing firsthand what it’s like to share one water tap with hundreds of other families, to have no service delivery or street lights.
Iam feeling sorry for you,Jay, because you seems to be reasoning with your stomarch whilst reserving your brain.This is a thought leaders colum,is not a greaving colum. You have to read and understand clearly the comment within a blog before you give an answer.
I am of course south african in every respect you can think of. But point number 1. I donnot beleive in violence and I donnt support violent people.
2.I take my time to think about a situation and analyse it, whether it has good or bad consequences.
My comment is 100%relevant to the topic, what is happening to our country now is more linked to the issues, I have already mentioned above, each factor contributed to the other.
So I blame our people who kill other people, but you must also be aware that they are frustated for not to getting their basic needs from their govt.
4.You as well should think positive, if millions of your people stayed home and gave those millions of votes to the right leader your problem would have been solved. I am saying to you , its only your people who can do that, I cant do that for you.
5.Iam a kind of a person who is not intimidated by people who fail to think positive and jump over the use of words stupit,violent or so on.
That is a fact , it would have given you a long term solution , for your own country. Our people are now angry with your influx which has been going on for almost 15 years, mind you there is no war in your country, so you donnt qualify here as refugees.
6.In your support we are blaming our govt. for not helping you to get a proper govt. to look after you . We cannt sympahtise with your people by overlooking citizens problems at your expence.
So get your facts right.
I have friends who deals with Major fuel companies and do maintenance on the petrol stations in our country and Lesotho , Swaziland etc. They cant even get a work permit to fullfill their contractual commitments They cant stay there and they cant own propperty there
Our government allowed this as I have proof of people applying for jobs with my courier company, 3 months in S A now having an RSA ID
This means he can vote, TOY TOY ,demand and request schools, health care , social grants etc
The current regime allowed this so they can push up their numbers at the voting stations when there is an election So half of these so called Nastionals are faceless and dont belong in the system
No wonder that the peopel of SA are getting Fed up with this
The ANC bred a dog that turned out to be a monster now biting its own master.
ITs a pitty that they are not at the forefront Its the people that suffers most that must fight this onslaught.
Where are all those comrades now …. stand up and walk in the township and rally this like you did pre 94 and see if things are OK for you