(Screenshot from video)
While incidents of xenophobia are increasing and thousands of foreigners have already left South Africa, some experts believe that the latest violence is rather related to the political struggle that is unfolding before the local government elections in November.
More than 3,000 Malawians, including hundreds of children, took refuge in an open field in Durban on Wednesday after they were reportedly driven from their homes or threatened with violence. The incident follows weeks of marches by groups demanding that undocumented foreigners leave the country by June 30.
Also read: Immigration Crisis: Foreign Pressure or Domestic Failure?
Protesters arrived with sticks and shields on Friday at a protest against immigrants in Actonville, Wattville and other areas in Benoni (Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee / GroundUp)
The tension has increased so much that several countries, including Ghana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Nigeria, have already started to repatriate their citizens from South Africa.
According to prof. André Duvenhage, political analyst attached to the North-West University, South Africa is in a unique position.
“South Africa remains one of Africa’s largest economies, but at the same time we are an extreme, weakened state,” he says.
He points to increasing corruption, poor border control and the inability of the state to effectively manage immigration. According to him, these conditions attract people from other African countries who are looking for economic opportunities.
“Foreigners are hard workers and are willing to work for lower wages. South Africa has a very high unemployment rate, but many migrants come here because they see opportunities that do not exist elsewhere,” he says.
However, Duvenhage believes that the current incidents of xenophobia cannot simply be attributed to economic factors.
“The local elections are around the corner. There are political parties and even factions within the ANC that incite xenophobia and use it as an opportunity to put pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa.”
According to him, South Africa’s political instability, high level of unemployment and poor border control are now part of a larger political power struggle.
“We must not underestimate the role of factions and other parties. Law and order is already being undermined and this issue can be used to further weaken Ramaphosa,” he warns.
The president announced on Sunday that the government will introduce stricter measures against employers who employ undocumented foreigners. This includes large fines and possible prison terms for violators of the Immigration Act.
Ramaphosa’s announcement elicited quite a reaction from political parties. Herman Mashaba, president of ActionSA, says the issue reflects the ANC’s “historic inability” to effectively secure South Africa’s borders.
“ActionSA is disappointed in the president’s weak and reactionary speech. It does nothing to deal with the immigration crisis created by the ANC and perpetuated by the failed government of national unity (GNE),” said Mashaba.
Ramaphosa addressed the country on Sunday amid rising tensions over illegal immigration, recent protests against foreigners and calls to force the country to a standstill on June 30 over it.
Grandfather Sello, one of the local organizers of the protests against immigrants in the greater Benoni region. He addressed supporters in Actonville. (Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee / GroundUp)
The anti-immigrant group March to March has warned that the country will be forced to a standstill on June 30 if all illegal immigrants do not leave South Africa by that date.
Songezo Zibi, leader of Rise Mzansi and member of the Government of National Unity (GNE), has warned that the situation is dangerously escalating.
According to Zibi, the persistent xenophobia and the planned march could turn into violence.
“People are going to die on June 30,” he warned.
However, Duvenhage does not believe that the planned nationwide action will have the effect that organizers predict.
“I think the calls for a total shutdown are largely political noise. It is rather about gathering political support and putting pressure on Ramaphosa. I think June 30 will come and go,” he says.
Also read: Many march after Ramaphosa’s speech on immigrants
According to Statistics South Africa, there are currently around three million foreigners in the country, representing approximately 5.1% of the population. More than 63% of them come from member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
With the local government elections now a few months away, Duvenhage warns that immigration and border control are likely to be one of the most controversial political issues in the election campaign.
