Xenophobia could get worse

2009-05-12 18:25

Johannesburg - The current downturn in economies worldwide may increase tension between locals and foreigners as the availability of resources tighten, a non-governmental organisation said on Tuesday.

According to Loren Landau, chair of the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa's executive committee, the country has regressed in its bid to promote harmonious relations between locals and foreigners residing within its borders.

"If anything, we have gone back," he said, adding that little had been done by authorities to get to the cause of the problem.

"There has been no systematic investigation, authorities are doing very little... the Human Rights Commission has delayed its inquiry," Landau said.

Economic gain

Cormsa believes the attacks were initiated by local leaders in each of the areas it occurred, mainly for economic gain.

Landau said President Jacob Zuma had taken office at a precarious time, given the global economic scenario.

The 8th UASA SA Employment Report released earlier this month indicated that the global downturn could result in the loss of around 300 000 jobs in South Africa.

In the motor industry, outside of manufacturing, 37 000 jobs were lost in 2008.

In the first three months of this year, the number of people out of work rose to 4.184 million from 3.87 million previously, the survey found.

Landau said that against this economic backdrop, the likelihood of a resurgence of the violence seen last year was increased.

"There will also be less resources for government to meet expectations and foreigners will be blamed for this," he said.

Director of Economists.co.za, Mike Schussler, agreed that the rocky economic climate could create tension between locals and foreigners.

"We are the richest country in the region... the amount of jobs, social security, makes it quite a big attraction to people... it will attract people in this downward phase of the economic cycle," he said.

Risk of tension increased

"At the same time our people will be feeling the pressure of job losses which may increase the risk of tension."

A year ago 62 people were killed and thousands of foreigners were displaced during a wave of xenophobic attacks across the country.

The grisly image of 35-year-old Mozambican national, Ernesto Alfabeto Nhamuave, who was doused with petrol and burnt alive by a mob at the Ramaphosa informal settlement in Reiger Park, became a symbol for the horror faced by foreign nationals during the attacks.

The first incident occurred in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, when an angry mob shot and killed one person and injured about 30 on Sunday, May 11.

Chichi Richard from the Coalition Against Xenophobia believed the tension between locals and foreigners remained in areas other than those which came under the spotlight during the xenophobic attacks last year.

He cited Hillbrow in Johannesburg as an example.

"The attacks didn't take place in Hillbrow, but there are serious tensions there," he said.

- SAPA