Send us your cartoons
We want to publish your cartoons on MyNews24. Send us your work and see it on MyNews24.
Win R1000 with MyNews24
Write an article on Nelson Mandela in celebration of his 90th birthday and you could win R1 000.
Search News24
     MyNews24 : Your story Get News24 on your mobile Terms & conditions 
Homepage
South Africa
Africa
World
Sport
Entertainment
Sci-Tech
Finance
Health
Galleries
 
Mandela90
Xenophobia
Zimbabwe
US Elections
Power Crisis
Aids Focus
More...
 
MyNews24
Letters
Your story
Columnists
Sports Columnists
Feedback
 
National Lottery
UK Lottery
Travel
Competitions
Horoscopes
TV Guides
Classifieds
Currie Cup game
 
Sudoku
Aces High
Silly Solitaire
Word Cube
Make 24
Golf Solitaire
Battleship
 
Stidy
The Biggish Five
Treknet
 
Newsletters
Weather

Cape Town:
10-13°C

Durban:
15-22°C

Johannesburg:
3-18°C

Weather Page

Traffic
Gauteng KwaZulu-Natal Eastern Cape Western Cape
All regions
Indicators
Rand/$ 7.7400
Rand/£ 15.2800
Rand/€ 12.1800
Gold/oz $921.23
Gold Mining 2211.31
+0.00%
All-share index 27611.63
+0.00%
Answerit
 
News24 Newsmaker
Vote in this month's Newsmaker poll and you could win R1000 cash!

 
Afrikaans
English
Your Story
 

YOUR STORY
What's really wrong in Alex?
15/05/2008 19:00  - (SA)  

  • ANC: Report didn't finger IFP
  • Minister calls for calm in Alex
  • 'Xenophobia has no place in SA'
  • Task team to probe Alex attacks
  • Democracy is not just for us
  • Townships tense after attacks
  • SLIDESHOW: Violence continues
  • Peter Black, News24 User

    Glancing at what's been making the headlines, I see report after report denouncing the recent xenophobic incidents in Alexandra and Diepsloot. However, if one digs deeper, with particular reference to columnists writing on the subject, you will notice the majority of them are white and have no clue what's at the heart of these issues.

    Dribble, such as we are a caring and forgiving nation, love your neighbour, and treat them as if they were one of us. That is absolute "gutter journalism" as I believe the term is called. These are lopsided anecdotes on how we should be tolerant towards the Zimbabwean refugees that have congregated themselves (the majority illegally) in our country.

    Well they would say that wouldn't they - these writers don't even live in Alexandra to provide first-hand perspective on what it like for your home, and living space, to be invaded by illegal occupants.

    Two things: I don't see these Zimbabweans moving into plush affluent suburbs, and secondly I don't know too many rich people living in Diepsloot and Alexandra at the moment to really experience the saturation of foreign imports - do you?

    Walk a mile in their shoes

    To be fair, all that well-off people are really exposed to are (some) Zimbabweans, venturing into the suburb and cities, turning to crime as desperation for securing a sense of "income".

    But you are forgetting that this criminal activity is not exclusive to rich people - it is happening on a larger and more violent scale in the townships to people that are far more impoverished than your average degree-educated suburban dweller.

    If my "neighbourhood" became saturated with illegal immigrants - taking my land, invading my home (just like what is happening in Alexandra) - I would not be happy. Maybe I wouldn't take it as far as gathering a mob for "public justice", but still, I wouldn't be sitting on my sofa cherry picking, that is for sure.

    My point is this: people were far too quick to release scathing reports on the recent xenophobic incidents. Denouncing it as cruel violence and asking what is happening to the rainbow nation, and painting a rosy picture of how we should treat all as equals. Judging others on issues where you have absolutely no experience is downright ignorant.

    Sugar-coated

    I don't condone the murders that happened - but I sympathise (not empathise, because I don't know what is like for your area to be invaded with a flood of illegal immigrants) - with the frustration they must be feeling with an area already saturated and now boiling over with occupants that have no right to live there.

    Next time a journalist wants to sugar-coat a story and paint a nice pretty picture of how people should act and feel, I suggest they go to the heart of the issue and experience it for real; get some perspective and reality on the issue.

    We can and must denounce murder because it is fundamentally wrong. But don't judge others' beliefs or feelings or animosity because your views dictate that's how it should be.

    As the famous quote of Paulo Coelho goes, "We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it's another to think that yours is the only path."

    Get published on News24 by sending your article, story or column to us

    See who has had a say on News24.

    Disclaimer: News24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.

     
     

     
         
      Peter You are Spot-On here
    15/05/2008 16:05
    If people really Care for the foreigners why dont they go to Alexandra and invite the illegal immigrants to erect shacks in their own backyard...South africans are gatvol to live amongts this people...invite them to your own house if you really care because the people that have been living with them are now tired... - Kolobe
     
      Hypocrates...
    15/05/2008 16:07
    You cannot force the people of Alexandra to share their houses and shacks with foreigners whereas you dont want to share your own suburb... - Kolobe
     
      In response
    15/05/2008 16:12
    your article lacks morality, common sense, logic and justifiable facts that foreigners are criminals. There has always been criminals in SA, even b4 the country was invaded by foreigners. Don't blame foreigners for your problems. Don't justify murder for whatever reason - Craig
     
      RDP HOUSES
    15/05/2008 16:12
    this mess started when foreigners occupied RDP houses while locals have been on the waiting list for more than 5 years - MONWA
     
      Walk in their shoes
    15/05/2008 16:12
    How about you walk in the shoes of the immigrants before you take a stance against people denouncing xenophobia as wrong. No one is saying that life in the townships if peachy. Do you think the Zimbabweans want to be there? The posts on news24 are starting to sound like they come from Nazi Germany, just replace Zimbo with Jew. - Rian
     
      pot calling the kettle black
    15/05/2008 16:13
    While I agree with your sentiment, it doesn't look like you are living in Alexandra either - nor do you look black. So you are in the same position to comment on the situation as the white journalists you are having a go at here. later, thorne - Thorne
     
      Residents are THEMSELVES to blame!
    15/05/2008 16:14
    Alexandra residents can ONLY blame themselves. THEY voted for a government that allows uncontrolled border-hopping! - Now they should learn to LIVE WITH IT! - Juan
     
      well said...
    15/05/2008 16:14
    I also completely disagree with murders but I can see where these residents are coming from.Its very easy to sit in front of my computer at home or in the office and vomit Woodstock ideals, but the reality is far from what most of us can imagine and just like u and millions of South Africans,I would not be too happy with illegal?s pouring across the borders and taking jobs and some of them resorting to crime in my area.The damn govt needs to wake up before its to late.They need to stop this flooding of so called refugees. - nWo
     
      living next to Nigeria
    15/05/2008 16:15
    The illegal immigrant issue has been brewing a long time and this government failed to address the issue and now it is beginning to blow up in their face. I lived next to some Nigerians and we did not get on. Luckly I moved to a good area before I had to put my martial arts skills to good use. - Pangea
     
      Too simplistic
    15/05/2008 16:16
    I think that you are just as guilty of that which you are accusing others of.There are far too many questions that needs to be answered and we havent or cannot begin to agree on those questions. Why have we become so intolerant? Simply put we only have ourselves to blame. - Cape Town Kid
     
      Peter, wake up man!!!
    15/05/2008 16:16
    "But don't judge others' beliefs or feelings or animosity because your views dictate that's how it should be" So, if the Germans felt, hey, lets invade the world and kill the jews, we should say: "Cool, I wont judge them, thats their believe" That would create a [more] messed up world!! - jannie
     
      Re:What's really wrong in Alex?
    15/05/2008 16:17
    Very balance article and hope those in ivory towers will learn a thing or two before judging. - SBU
     
      Bla bla bla
    15/05/2008 16:20
    To be honest all I read in this article was a justification of why violence should not be condoned simply because somebody looks differently from you. Violence is never justifiable unless you're defenidng yourself. Peter Black, you would've done well in policits prior to 94, as your argument is the same that would've been used by old Verwoerd. - Johno
     
      xenophobia
    15/05/2008 16:21
    I agree fully. Most people write about this topic and attempt to tell people in townships how to feel and act. If they feel so strongly about making illegal immigrants welcome here they should put themselves at risk first before expecting anyone else to take their opinion seriously. - veritas
     
      Good article
    15/05/2008 16:25
    Go to any city in South Africa and there is a crime problem revolving around these illegals. We all feel sorry for the citizens of our neibouring countries, but now we are the victims of their failed economies and we are paying a dear price. Third force...fourth force...any force... it's time to round them up and ship them back to where they came from, and don't forget the Nigerians. - jkc
     
      ja no lets bliksem these zimbos
    15/05/2008 16:25
    they must get the hell out of this country the are simply put not welcome here. And company's employing these people if they are illegal that is should be heavily fined. good ridence to these illegals go home - terence
     
      Alex issue
    15/05/2008 16:26
    Peter, this is exactly the feeling of the people of Alex. Many of these poeple try to get legal paper but the home affairs make it impossible for them. Truth is, we all want to live peaceful, including the illegal immigrants. They are here b'cause instability in Zim and they want shelter. In short lack of service delivery ( immigration papers) from the Govenment is the root cause. The only way to control the situation is to have control over the the influx of these refugee seeking people. - Afriman
     
      Nice quote
    15/05/2008 16:27
    "We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it's another to think that yours is the only path." - RicciRich
     
      It's wrong
    15/05/2008 16:27
    I hate the fact that african people are turning against other africans, how stupid is that? we have got a lot of illegal Chinnes, Indians, whites.....Just because of who they are they are deemed legal emigrants?, Fellow Africans donn't see anything wrong with that!! Damn, ignorance!!!!. - xo
     
      Have a little heart!
    15/05/2008 16:27
    Most of these immigrants are not here by choice they have lost their homes and jobs in their own countries and have come to South Africa to survive. I know many Zimbabweans living in wealthy areas as well poor areas and all they are doing is working to send money home to their families...is that so wrong? Wouldn't you do the same if you lost everything in your homeland - be careful not to judge so harshly - the same could happen in South Africa and you might also try to move out to survive. - Anonymous
     
      "well said for a white guy chief"
    15/05/2008 16:28
    these people were up in arms when squaters moved near theur suburbs and yet they are quick to blame the poor. we need to know that these people are competing for the same small scraps that you rich folk throw at them, it obviouse that friction will occur, the government should send them home that is the only solution. - qaqambile
     
      Biting the worm instead of the apple
    15/05/2008 16:28
    Craig - you missed the point there mate. My point is - I am sure you don't have dozens of illegal immigrants living in your living room. People are too quick to point fingers without understanding the root cause of the violence. Come off your high horse - the air's fresher down here! - Peter Black
     
      How strange
    15/05/2008 16:34
    I find it odd that so many people commenting don't seem to have read what you wrote. I didn't see you attempting to justify murder (as suggested by Craig) and I equally don't see you making any comments as to what's right and wrong in Alex. What I see is you condemning the murders, but telling those who wish to pass judgement on the background to the murders to go and get a clue first. Though your comment about Zimbos committing crimes in suburbs does require some justification. - CTheB
     
      Wait until thye are in your suburb
    15/05/2008 16:35
    You are spot on.In typical SA fashion the real victims of this situation are demonised for trying to protect what is theirs. I always say wit until squater camps start mushroom next to your house and you will feel the pain of the Alex residents.I've seen it in some suburbs in the South of JHB.Illegals must not be allowed to do as they please, roam around the country freely, no matter their circumstances. This is our country and first priority is South Africans. - Tebzano
     
      I do understand, but....
    15/05/2008 16:35
    I can understand the poorer communities taking the law into their own hands. If the upper/middle class person is robbed, they are either insured and will claim or will buy whatever has been stolen in a short amount of time. The poor do not have that luxury, if its stolen its gone forever. How much of the violence is actually xenophobia though, and how much is criminal activity - like when a white man murders a black man its a racist attack, but if a black man murders a white man its normal crime? - Karen
     
      So adamant all of a sudden...
    15/05/2008 16:38
    Kolobe, Sello and JQ are. When it's your own doing unto your own then it's justifiable i.e. the people in Alexandra are tired blah, blah, f-ing blah. JQ, continuously trumps the African card about this being MY country and what not and what it is in essence to be African and the common answer, is black. Now when Bob's-your-uncle Mugabe is doing the same if not worst to your fellow africans, who mind you sheltered your 'forebears' in the apartheid time, you shun and turn your backs. Hypocrites!! - shinydiscoballs
     
      Answer the question!!!
    15/05/2008 16:39
    many of u have not answered the question posed by Peter,and its a simple one.Would u be doing cart wheels and throwing braais with ILLEGAL immigrants if they happened to set up shop on ur front porch? - nWo
     
      @ Kolobe, Peter Black
    15/05/2008 16:41
    You both make it sound like immigrants have invaded the houses of locals (RDP houses aside, that is a whole other mess, public servants are doing the same thing, should we rape and kill them?). Where are you getting your facts from? Effectivly it would be the same as a Zimbabwean moving in next door to me. I would not want to rape and kill them. Compare apples with apples. Also you both seem to think refugees are more likely to commit crime than locals, once again were are the facts? - Rian
     
      GOOD ONE Peter
    15/05/2008 16:42
    It is true - how can we make judgment if we have no idea what the South Africans in Alex have to bare on a daily basis, But the killing of people is not the solution. - colin
     
      aficans in an african land
    15/05/2008 17:47
    Samora Machel died in plane crush from (South Africa)to attend a meeting that was going to free black S. Africans using the Mozambuican plane burning mozambuican fuel 'NOW THEY ARE FREE THEY ARE KILLING MOZAMBIQUIANS'.UUUUUUM IT'S A FAIR GAME AT THE DARKEST HOUR OF THE DARK CONTINENT. - tsepo
     
      To Anonymous
    15/05/2008 17:52
    Of course they're here by choice. Things were really bad for them in their home country, they thought things might be better here, so they chose to come here. If someone holds a gun to my head and tells me they'll shoot me if I don't follow their instructions I have a choice as to whether I follow or die. I'm not justifying what's happened in Alex, but please don't make out as if they were brought here and are being held against their will. - CTheB
     
      As you reap ...
    15/05/2008 18:03
    I wonder how many of the people living in Alex who support this violence also think Mugabe is a saint? If the ANC (and its voting population) were a little more hard-ass with the Mugger I may be more 'sympathetic' to their feelings of anger towards the immigrants. - Anon
     
      alexandra
    15/05/2008 18:21
    Good column. The government should have seen this coming and erect refugee camps. - taurus
     
      Whats really wrong
    15/05/2008 18:23
    its the third force..no wait, its the IFP ...no wait...its criminal elements! What is really wrong is that there are a lot of people that do not have the means to live the lives we do and the paw paw has hit the fan. - mallencolly
     
      WHAT NEXT !!
    15/05/2008 18:27
    No wonder there is so much crime in this country, how can we support refugee's when our guys dont even have jobs, homes, food the list goes on. Come on Stand up for our rights. We must help, but charity begins at HOME !! - Liz
     
      Blame to both sides
    15/05/2008 18:34
    Everyone is wrong. Lets not forget Zimbo's voted for Mugabe and a majority of SA voted for the ANC. Zimbo's are now running across the border cause they don't want to live with their mistake or fight for a resolution. The ANC (cause all African leaders are brothers) are not stopping the influx of illegals. Zimbo's need to go back to Zim and try to build their country and South Africans must remember that their government put aliens before their own citezins. Scary ain't it. - David
     
      @Colin
    15/05/2008 18:39
    "But the killing of people is not the solution"? These people are considered criminals. Hence the violence. SA public is calling for the death sentence for criminals. The death sentence kills people. Alexandra, Diepsloot and others just short cut the judicial process, saving time and money. Maybe some innocent people get killed in the process, but this happens in the judicial systems as well. Problem solved or does this sound too simplistic? - Benzo
     
      illegal immigrants
    15/05/2008 18:39
    The problem in Alex with The zimbo's will continue in Cape Town with the Nigerians. Look at Parklands and Seapoint. There's more Nigerians than South Africans. The reason because thy are criminals and nobody can stay with the. They sell drugs and weapons and nobody do anything aboaut that. I agree put them out of our country so we can live peace full together...Gat vol in Cape Town - Cape Town
     
         
    This comments facility is now closed.
     
    JOBS
    Manager Corporate Governance
    Gauteng
    IT / Telecomms
    Training Officer
    Gauteng
    FMCG / Retail / Wholesale
    CA (SA) - Audit Manager
    Western Cape
    Accounting / Finance / Auditing
    Junior Incident and Change Manager
    Western Cape
    IT / Telecomms
    Senior Storage Specialist
    Western Cape
    IT / Telecomms
    Oracle Developer
    Western Cape
    IT / Telecomms
    Oracle Developer
    Western Cape
    IT / Telecomms
    Java Developer
    Western Cape
    IT / Telecomms
    Developer
    Gauteng - Johannesburg
    IT / Telecomms


    About us | Advertise | Contact us | Job opportunities | Press Releases | Site map

    Back to top
     Sponsored links
    Life Insurance
    Car Insurance
    UK Lottery
    First for Women
    Your Homeloan
    Bid or Buy
    Medical Aid
    Education
    Get FREE stuff
    SA TV online
    Best Car Deals
    Personal Loans
    Health & Fitness
    Compare Quotes
    Life Insurance for Women
    Car Servicing & Repair