Lactating and laughing all the way to the bank
It’s no longer a case of doubting whether truly there is a crazy fear or loathing of other black
people from diverse African countries, which every so often culminates in prejudices or
discrimination and social segregation, or in slurs, stereotyping, violence or death; it’s more
about what is the South African government doing about this firm anti-foreigner sentiment,
what are the affected African countries saying and doing about it, and who is pushing and
puffing its fires. Who is breastfeeding xenophobia, financially or politically? Does this fear
help it wean from its mother’s breasts or encourage it to keep on lactating and laughing?
Amid all this deterioration, drama and disorder, my best bet is that it’s suckling and smiling.
Frustration, fighting and fussing
Despite having Africa’s most industrialised economy, South Africa is dogged by political and
socio-economic disparities and realities that manifest themselves in high unemployment and
inequality. Up to this day, it is evident that many black South Africans remain and languish on
the margins of Africa’s most industrialised and white capitalist economy that was not meant to
uplift or serve them but to mentally lull and keep them as victims and aiders of a powerfully
skewed colonial system whose solid political turntables and tentacles will continue to outlive
and outclass a series of misdiagnoses and myopias. Frustration can lead to fights and fussing.
Demonstrations, denials and disappointments
Some reasons given for the resurfacing of xenophobic gripes: illegal entry, sleaze, poverty,
scarcity of jobs, drug-trafficking, and a strain on resources. The anti-migrant marchers bemoan
lawbreaking, strained public services and joblessness. Authorities repudiate that xenophobia is
back and alive but harp on demonstrations against illegal immigration and fake videos.
What about xenophobic tensions? Can they honestly deny or rubbish them? Can people walk
their talk? Is it not insincere to preach about building African solidarity and unity when
their backyards are breeding grounds for bigotry? Xenophobia is an antithesis of unity,
development, dignity and peace.
Foreignness is in the eyes of the percipient and recipient
Will the demonstrations not fuel prejudice, mob violence, fear among black foreigners? Amid
their worries about xenophobia, they are discreetly directed to exercise “heightened vigilance”
or take precautions, a “low profile” or to remain indoors. The focal points are the blacks from
other African nations. That’s the “rule”— a decree that is applied selectively. It hounds, accuses
and sidelines the blacks. What about non-black “foreigners” who might be undocumented or
illegal? So much for their hype about law and order? Is it not about intolerance? Self-hate? Easy
targets? Focusing on one side of the coin? Not telling both sides of the story? Is that approach
honest and holistic or narrow-minded? The demonstrations scream desperation and
detestation against “foreigners”. Honestly, whose lens and taxonomies are the protesters using
to see themselves, the world and everyone else? Can a black African native be foreign in Africa?
A system and its funders and foundations
At the centre of this scapegoating and scuffling game is a system that breathes and functions.
It doesn’t take an economist or political scientist to know that a skewed system can have a
history or a leaning toward the sedation, indoctrination, fossilization, hierarchisation,
brutalisation, entanglement, dehumanisation, fooling and funding of its victims. All these
practices, decoys and deceits can be easily and ultimately normalised or mistaken for
empowerment at the peril of its victims and aiders. It goes on because it is powered by vital
elements like inputs, processes, outputs, feedback, control, environment, objectives or goals.
These fundamental mechanisms enable the system to operate. These key components oil its
machinery and shape its trajectory. A system has its near and far strategists, coalitions,
controllers, funders and beneficiaries. It takes an economic, cultural, political and social resolve
to change a system. An unfair system thrives on the backdrop of a victim who aids it,
intentionally or unknowingly. Usually, it has a field day and a leeway by virtue of its victims’
inaction, ideological impoverishment and a government’s lack of political will or vision.
Selective cowardice cowers from the real issues
Where do the two fighting groups feature in this intricate equation? Why do I smell selective
cowardice in this jigsaw puzzle? Why do I sense scapegoating? Even a type of goatscaping that is
unhealthy, unsustainable and inefficient. Good goatscaping is good for the
environment. Landscaping should boost the aesthetic appeal of the country, and woo
investors and visitors. This kind of constant brawling tends to hurt innocent people, the
standing and reputation of the country, including its tourism sector. Are not both the locals
and the foreigners, victims? Whipping boys! It’s systemic. Forceful. Are both not frustrated and
helpless powerless pawns? Do they control it? Power? Own it? Do they have the muscles? Do
they have the cards? If not, then who’s preying on them? What’s happening? Both are clearly
not calling the shots. What type of politics is being played on them? To whose gain or
advantage? Catching small fish, yet letting bigger ones through the net? Something is missing?
The story is incomplete. They are shying away and missing the bigger picture, fighting and
focusing on symptoms. The elephant in the room will keep on lumbering on like the strong
system that functions. It is going to be a vicious cycle. Prejudice will continue being its motif or
motive. Why, because people are being clouded and spurred by anger, hunger and frustration.
They seek to resolve big issues by catching smaller fish, cuttingcorners, fighting for offcuts, not
the full cake. The issue is bigger than spaza shops or menial jobs. It’s a desirable process and
agenda. It’s about meaningful, brave and broad transformation and systemic dismantlement.
Xenophobia is a ticking time bomb
Not every black South African is intolerant. Can this form of South African “nationalism” come
to terms with what is, whose interests it seeks to serve, what it has done and where it is
heading? Any real intervention measures? For, it is a ticking time bomb waiting to erupt, deface
and detach South Africa from other African nations at a time when the revolutionary talk of a
rising, united Africa is the bold voice of reason and the season, prophecy and purpose. If
xenophobic tensions are on the upsurge; there is rising diplomatic pressure between South
Africa and other African nations. Xenophobia makes one tense. Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho and
Zimbabwe have advised their citizens to be wary of possible attacks. Nigeria has gone a step
further and offered to repatriate Nigerians amidst uncertainties of xenophobic attacks. Indeed,
African nations are concerned over the safety and wellbeing of their citizens. Social media
is awash with the news of the demonstrations, xenophobic tensions and worries. One hopes
that these will not take a turn for the worse. Any possible resolution?
Africa’s future hinges on shared dignity and prosperity, not on fights and fretting
Diplomacy. Will diplomacy finally deliver the desired remedy or just rhetoric? Where is the AU?
Ghana has urged it to uphold African solidarity and unity. Warning of a possible backlash if
action is not taken, Ghana has now called upon the African Union to add the critical issue of
xenophobia in South Africa to the June AU meeting’s agenda and to launch a fact-finding
mission on it. Ghana’s letter to the AU states that Africa’s future rests on its people’s shared
dignity, prosperity, and respect for one another. In fact, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign
Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, summoned South African
representatives, and cautioned that continued dithering could encourage vigilante groups
and risk retaliatory actions against South African businesses in Accra. Not small spaza shops!
Author Biography
Ndaba Sibanda is a Bulawayo-born poet, novelist, and nonfiction writer who has a passion for themes and topics around conservation, nature, development and justice. He believes that he is a poet in prose, and hence he has never looked back since building and marching into the very first poetry pharmacy in the world, where poetry … and poetry and poetics are the most tonic threesome prescriptions.
