(HERALD) Apartheid returns to haunt SA
Apartheid returns to haunt SABy Sifelani Tsiko
THE legacy of skewed economic and social apartheid policies came full circle to haunt South Africa recently following a wave of ill-treatment and violent malpractices on foreigners mainly in black townships which have suffered decades of neglect and marginalisation.
Growing poverty and unemployment levels buffeted by decades of skewed apartheid policies forced South Africans to explode and vent their frustrations on foreigners, particularly Zimbabweans, Malawians, Mozambicans, Somalis, Nigerians and other nationals.
These foreigners were targeted by mobs carrying machetes and guns in some of Johannesburg’s poorest areas over the past two weeks in a new wave of violence that has led to the death of more than 40 people, displaced more than 3 000 others who were left destitute.
More than 500 people have sought refuge at police stations in Johannesburg, Red Cross centres as well as diplomatic missions inside South Africa.
The attacks are spreading like veldfire in most poor townships and the police are being overwhelmed, pushing back South Africa into the horrible days of apartheid.
On the surface of this latest wave of violence, angry South Africans accused foreigners of taking up scarce jobs and housing.
The Western media and the white-dominated media inside South Africa are apparently mum on the damaging effects of apartheid policies which deprived the majority of black Africans of decent jobs, education, housing and dignity.
It is of major concern that the powerful international media and their sidekicks, the white-dominated South African Press, are harping on this latest wave of violence and feeding the world with stereotypes that read: "Look at this black government that is mismanaging the economy." This in many ways means that black people cannot run governments and create jobs for their own people.
The racist and simplistic message is: "Thabo Mbeki has failed, chuck him out." Deeper analysis of the skewed apartheid economic policies which benefited the white minority immensely and even up to now is carefully and tactically tucked underneath the carpet. No one should remember or unearth this embarrassing episode of South African history.
During the apartheid era, cheap labour was sourced from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Namibia and other countries in Africa. The massive capital accumulated by the apartheid regime and the US and British multinationals was used to build the highly developed South African economy we see today.
The affluent white community is still enjoying the benefits resulting from this massive capital accumulation through good housing (suburban areas went largely unscathed in this latest implosion), well-funded schools, highly capitalised businesses, access to good health facilities and a whole cafeteria of benefits.
On the contrary, countries which provided South Africa with cheap labour never benefited much from the capital accumulated.
The huge disparity in terms of economic and social development between South Africa and its neighbours is all clear for all to see. South Africa was built on the sweat of black labour from all the neighbouring countries within the Southern African Development Community configuration.
Thousands of black people from this region died in South African mines without any form of compensation or even notification of relatives. Some were maimed or injured in mines all without any form of redress. The white community thrived at the expense of blacks, both inside and those coming from outside.
Blacks inside South Africa, too, never enjoyed the benefits coming with a booming economy arising out of gold and diamond mining. They were forced to live in ‘‘match box’’ houses, forced to learn in schools with no adequate learning materials and this meant that without meaningful education, they would get inferior jobs.
While apartheid was raging on, other neighbouring countries got independent and immediately rolled out education policies that widened education to the majority of their people. Countries like Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi churned out skilled manpower which could secure jobs in these countries and was forced to trek down south.
So these nationals got the jobs while the disadvantaged South Africans were left out of the tough race for jobs. Most of the foreigners, too, had developed skills to run businesses while a handful of South African blacks were able to do so.
Skewed apartheid development policies left the entire Southern African sub-continent which fed South Africa with cheap labour largely under-developed. So today, most people in the region survive through cross-border trade and other menial jobs they get on part-time basis in South Africa. Professionals have flocked to South Africa in search of better conditions but in the process inciting the wrath of locals.
So this scenario (conflict) has been simmering for decades. This huge development gap between South Africa and its neighbours is largely to blame for this sudden explosion of tempers. Ill-treatment of foreigners has been going on for some time and the temperatures reached boiling point two weeks back when violence erupted in a poor township called Alexandra.
President Mbeki’s government has no resources to address all the symptoms of apartheid which were left unattended for decades by the white apartheid regime. So it is important for the media to strike a balance and also bring in the historical perspective of the implosion.
The violence has been roundly condemned by politicians and human rights groups.
"Communities that are in South Africa for work must be treated humanely, if they become involved in criminal cases, they must be subject to trial by competent and impartial courts," one social analyst remarked.
Says a University of Zimbabwe political analyst: "South Africa and Botswana have registered positive economic growth from the exploitation of cheap labour from countries in the region."
"Without labour from Malawi, Zambia, Angola and Zimbabwe, South Africa wouldn’t be what it is today."
He suggested that stronger economies in the region should move to support weaker neighbours through relaxation of trade and labour regulations.
"Most people in the region survive through cross-border trade and other menial jobs they get on part-time," he says.
"Closing all avenues for trade and employment will not lead us anywhere. Look at what countries in the European Union are doing. We have to move towards that."
Illegal migration has become a hot topic in the region and growing hatred and ignorance about the rights and realities of migrants has blighted human rights records for the region’s two richest countries which boast about democracy.
Analysts cite economic recession, poor investments, unemployment and search for better living standards as the major reason for migration.
Until economies in Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique improve Botswana and South Africa will have to contend with frustrations of having to deport someone today only for them to return two or three days later.
It’s a vicious cycle.
While I do not condone acts of violence against foreigners, it is only proper for the mainstream Western media to see the brutal and skewed apartheid policies as the major cause for the explosion of hate rather than the superficial "violence sells" reports we are being fed today.
They can, in addition to this, also bring in similar challenges facing other regions of the world and make useful comparisons that can aid the understanding of global migration.
Migration is both a complex issue for analysis and serious probe.
According to the International Labour Organisation, it is difficult to give an accurate number of migrants seeking employment opportunities worldwide.
But it estimates that migrants for employment accounted for 90 million people living legally and illegally in a country other than theirs.
A study carried out by the United Nations in 218 countries showed that in 1965 there were 75 million people living outside their country of origin or both.
The figure increased to 120 million people in 1990. In 1997 the figure was estimated to have hit 140 million. When apartheid’s contribution to this crisis is worked out and other important comparison made, policymakers and people in general can draw useful lessons that can help reduce what the Western world calls xenophobia.
Labels: SOUTH AFRICA, XENOPHOBIA
posted by MrK @ 12:37 AM
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