South Africa August 2006 |
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| South Africa belongs to all of us: Editorial, (Sunday Argus, 2006-08-27):-Another Somalian has been killed in Cape Town - the 27th to be murdered in the Western Cape this year. Police are insisting again that this is not part of a pattern of xenophobia against immigrants and that they "don't distinguish between Somalis and other murder victims". Perhaps it is time that they did. Immigrants from Africa must rank among the most discriminated-against groups in the country. Conflict and poverty in many parts, including close neighbours Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zambia, has resulted in a huge influx of immigrants from throughout the subcontinent. They come to South Africa in search of a better life. From the time they arrive in the country, they face discrimination, violence and hatred. Today we report on the ordeal faced by desperate immigrants which begins as they cross into our country, into what they dreamed would be a land of hope. Instead, the brutal reception they receive from the authorities and local communities alike should shame us all. The fear of foreigners is not a new phenomenon in South Africa. Since 1998, when two Senegalese were thrown off a train and killed, the government and human rights bodies have hosted workshops trying to find solutions to the growing refugee problem. This week, the Minister of Home Affairs acknowledged that her department cannot cope and that the asylum system was close to collapse. She noted that there was a "huge backlog" of asylum applications awaiting finalisation. The current spate of attacks on Somalis in the Western Cape appears to be fuelled by fear and envy as many of the victims have been running successful businesses in a climate of fierce competitions for jobs. There is a flawed perception that any foreigner making money in the local economy is taking away from locals. In the case of the Somali businessmen who have died, this is patently untrue as many had been providing jobs for local people. The economy is not a finite pool of opportunities. It is a dynamic system which, as it grows, creates more opportunities for all. Notwithstanding South Africa's own pressing problems, there is a compelling argument to ensure that the rights of foreigners are respected and promoted. We should remember what our constitution says: South Africa belongs to all who live in it. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |