Xenophobic violence is a recurring phenomenon in South Africa, due to the numbers of asylum seekers, immigrants and refugees entering the country. The results showed that South Africans are becoming more intolerant of foreigners. Poverty and political unrest are driving factors for many immigrants coming to South Africa; Xenophobic violence is the attitudinal, physical and emotional violence perpetrated against immigrants, especially black immigrants; Violence against foreign nationals occurs through some level of physical and cultural manifestation, and poor black African immigrants living in informal settlements are victims of these attacks. Negative representations of African immigrants have thus led to xenophobic violence.
Chapter One
INTRODUCTION
- BACKGROUND
- UMlazi Township
- RESEARCH PROBLEM
- RESEARCH QUESTION
- Sub-Research Questions a) What is xenophobia?
- Objectives
- RATIONALE OF THE STUDY
- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
- Research design
- Research Methods .1 Interview
- VALIDITY, RELIABILITY AND RIGOR
- ETHIC ISSUE
- PRELIMINARY LITERATURE REVIEW
- DISSERTATION STRUCTURE
Neocosmos (2010) argues that research on xenophobic violence in the past was mainly concerned with the causes of xenophobic violence. Semi-structured interviews are applicable to this study as it enables the researcher to combine in-depth understanding of xenophobic violence.
Chapter Two
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
- Xenophobia
- Violence
- Xenophobic violence
- Immigrant
- Family
- Power
Several attempts have been made to define the prevalence of xenophobic violence in South Africa. Bekker (2010) argues that understanding xenophobic violence must be conceptualized in the South African context.
THEORECTICAL FRAMEWORK
- The Relative Deprivation theory
Relative deprivation is (where person A feels deprived of object X): person A does not have X; Person A wants to have X; Person A knows other people who have X; Person A believes that obtaining X is realistic (Runciman 1966:16). Various scholars such as (Crush et al, 2009, Pillay, 2008 and HSRC, 2008, Smith, 2015, Solomon and Kosaka 2014) have used relative deprivation theory to explain xenophobic violence in contemporary South Africa.
EMPIRICAL RESEARCH
- SECTION A: XENOPHOBIC VIOLENCE IN GLOBAL AND NATIONAL COUNTRIES
- Prevalence of xenophobic violence in International countries
- Xenophobic Violence in SADC countries
- SECTION B: XENOPHOBIC MANIFESTATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA
- Xenophobic violence in contemporary South Africa
- DETERMINANTS OF XENOPHOBIC VIOLENCE
This study has increased our understanding of the causes of xenophobic violence in South Africa, which is a key aspect in addressing the research objectives of this study. Vorster (2012) argues that the prevalence of xenophobic violence in modern South Africa will continue in township communities. However, experts such as Neocosmo et al. (2010) argue that the causes of xenophobic violence are historically rooted in that country's history.
Experts such as Kynoch (2005), Misago et al (2009) argue that xenophobic violence cannot be studied in relation to the current situation facing South Africa.
Biased Media coverage towards African immigrants
- Local Government denialism on the discourse of xenophobia as causes of xenophobic violence
- Government, Civil society interventions in addressing xenophobic violence
This supports the argument that xenophobic violence must be understood from a top-down approach (Sharp 2008), as every decision made by those in power permeates the community. Solomon et al (2014) argue that there still appears to be a level of denial among South Africans who engage in xenophobic violence. Frankly, it can be argued that xenophobic violence in communities is repeated because the perpetrators are not prosecuted.
This indicates that the South African justice system still faces challenges in prosecuting xenophobic perpetrators of violence (Crush, Ramachandran, 2009).
CONCLUSION
Chapter Three
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
- INTRODUCTION
- RESEARCH METHODOGY
- Research paradigm
- Research design
- Sampling
- Semi-structured interviews
- Literature review
- DATA ANALYSIS
- Data preparation and Familiarization
- Inducing
- Coding data themes
- Elaboration
- VALIDITY, RELIABILITY AND RIGOR
- Trustworthiness
- ETHICAL CONSIDERATION
- Reflexivity
- CONCLUSION
Braun and Clarke (2006) argue that the researcher must have some prior knowledge of the data before starting the analysis. Therefore, the researchers thoroughly devoted themselves to the depth and breadth of the collected data. This allowed the researcher to gain a deeper understanding of the information provided by the participants.
According to Vorster (2002), ethical guidelines provide a basis for the researcher to evaluate his own actions.
Chapter Four
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
- INTRODUCTION
- RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS
- FINDINGS OF THE STUDY
- Reasons for coming to South Africa
- General understanding of xenophobic violence
- Causes of xenophobic violence in UMlazi
- Respondent 2 Respondent 3 Respondent 4
Therefore, this study firmly acknowledges that from the findings presented, these perceptions of African immigrants have no substance for understanding the phenomena of xenophobic violence in South Africa. These findings support the arguments of Gatsheni (2014) in Chapter 2 suggesting a link between the increase in immigrants coming to South Africa and recurrences of xenophobic violence in South Africa. Xenophobic violence in South Africa is a war of the poor South African against the poor black immigrant…” (Respondent 4).
This is similar to Matshine's (2011) research, which found that xenophobic violence had escalated among poor black South Africans.
CAUSES OF XENOPHOBIC VIOLENCE
The main objective of this study is to address xenophobic violence, therefore the main causes of xenophobic violence must be understood. The findings from the respondents highlight the causes of xenophobic violence in Figure 4.1 as expressed by each respondent: socio-economic reasons, corruption and government are the themes that emerged. According to Figure 4.2, socio-economic factors such as lack of education, inadequate provision of services and unemployment are the reasons given for xenophobic violence.
Relative deprivation theory is used in this study and explains the link between xenophobia and socio-economic inequality among South Africans.
Socio-economic reasons
Unemployment and poverty
According to South Africans, they are losing jobs because of foreign nationals in this community. South Africans feel that the government is giving these jobs to us instead of them. 34; South Africa does have opportunities, but that's because the government is spoon-feeding South Africans.
South Africans feel that foreigners are stealing their jobs and see the need to drive them out.
Lack of education amongst local township individuals
Nyamnjoh, (2006) states that RDP houses were implemented to enable South African citizens to live in them. Dodson (2010) reports that South Africans sell or rent these RDP houses to foreigners and this exacerbates the housing shortage in the community. Such arguments lead to the discourse of right to resources that South Africans perceive themselves to have.
These findings illustrate how foreigners are excluded from resources based on the belief that South Africans first and foreigners second.
Corruption
- Border post officials as a cause of xenophobic violence
- Home affairs officials as a cause of xenophobic violence
- Xenophobic violence as an instigation by some officials
- Denialism of Government as a cause of xenophobic violence
According to respondents, the recent xenophobic violence was a result of the occupation of RDP houses by non-South African nationals. As can be seen from Table 4, the respondents also considered the issue of corruption as an influential trigger of xenophobic violence in UMlaza. In the literature, these issues are repeatedly cited as reasons for xenophobic violence among South Africans (Harris, 2002; Parsley & Everatt, 2009; HSRC, 2008).
The fact that Thabo Mbeki labeled xenophobic violence as criminal activity in 2005 illustrates the level of denial the government maintains.
Victims of township xenophobic violence
- Class position of black African immigrants
Your position in terms of class in South Africa influences the level of xenophobic violence a person is exposed to. These results suggest that there is a link between experiences of xenophobic violence and the class position of African immigrants in South Africa. Harris (2002), Matshinhe (2011) and Laher (2009) agree that the economic positioning of black African immigrants in society minimizes their experiences of xenophobic violence and discrimination.
The findings also show that black immigrants from the suburbs have a significantly different experience of xenophobic violence.
Effects of xenophobic violence on citizen’s immigrant relations
- Limited interaction with locals
34;If you live in relatively poor townships, you are in contact with poor South Africans who live in this township. Similar to previous studies by Monson (2011), CoRMSA (2012) and Everatt (2011), this study concluded that poor black African immigrants are exposed to attacks and are the primary targets due to their daily contact with poor South Africans. The use of such a word indicates the attitude that South Africans have towards black foreigners.
Respondents indicated how fear had become a common feature of their daily interactions with local South Africans in this community.
Perceptions South Africans have of African immigrants
- Black African immigrants as the unwelcome ‘other’
Perceived aggressiveness and negative perceptions portrayed by South Africans towards black immigrants are crucial and important to mention in this study. According to Respondent 2, the discourse of exclusion and negative perceptions of black African immigrants as stated by Neocosmos (2006) is caused by the media and the level of education of local South Africans. South Africans and society as a whole have these negative perceptions of black African immigrants because the media has portrayed us [African immigrants].
Respondents agreed that South Africans perceive foreigners differently and positively due to their level of education.
Addressing xenophobic violence
- Community level
- Implement integration programs of foreign nationals in Township/ Informal Communities
- Provincial Level
- Improve the education system in black communities
- Improve service delivery in Townships/Informal communities
- National level
- Control the country borders
- Protecting and respecting the rights of foreign nationals
- International level
Both civil society and the government should encourage programs to integrate foreign nationals into city communities. The opinions of respondent 3 confirm the findings of Nyamnjoh (2008) in chapter 2. The findings of this study seem to be consistent with other researches that have found integration programs of foreign nationals essential. The South African government and the constitution must protect the rights of foreign nationals living in South Africa by legally prosecuting perpetrators of xenophobic violence and changing immigration policies…” (Respondent 3).
The present findings seem to be consistent with Smith (2015) who found that the rights of foreign nationals should be protected by changing immigration policy.
CONCLUSION
The findings show that the racial hierarchy of social benefits in South Africa indicates that poor black South Africans continue to find themselves at the bottom of the South African social stratification ladder, which has created more frustrations in their lives, scapegoating black foreigners are made. It is clear that in South Africa today there is a racial devaluation of black lives because blackness is seen as a threat. However, the findings of this study are consistent with those of (Harris, 2002, Matshinhe, 2011, Laher, 2009) who suggest that xenophobic violence varies depending on the class position to which African immigrants in South Africa belong.
Addressing xenophobic violence in South Africa is not the sole responsibility of the government, but requires the participation of civil society, community leaders, non-governmental organizations and churches of faith communities.
Chapter Five
DISCCUSSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
FINDINGS
- Reasons for coming to South Africa
- General understanding of xenophobic violence
- Causes of xenophobic violence in UMlazi
- Victims of township xenophobic violence
- Perceptions South Africans have of African immigrants
- Effects of xenophobic violence on citizen’s immigrant relations
- Strategies for addressing xenophobic violence from a Community level
- Strategies for addressing xenophobic violence from a Provincial level
- Strategies for addressing xenophobic violence from a National level
The research objective of this study was to determine the causes of xenophobic violence in urban communities using the case of UMlazi. Respondents accuse the media of an important role in the manifestation of xenophobic violence in society. Respondents mentioned community awareness campaigns through community forums and social dialogues as necessary to address xenophobic violence.
Therefore, there is a need for dialogue and international forums between international communities to address xenophobic violence from an international perspective.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH
- Government
- Community
- Department of education and higher education
- Home Affairs officials and Border post officials
The factors such as xenophobic violence associated with millions of illegal migrants entering South Africa illegally mean that there is a need for the government to strengthen South African border controls to regulate the flow of migrants. Fighting corruption, protecting and respecting the rights of foreign nationals are factors that have been shown to be beneficial in combating xenophobic violence. These are the following recommendations that are necessary to address xenophobic violence in the township and restore peace in the community.
The answer to alleviating xenophobic violence lies in correcting the negative perceptions that South Africans have of immigrants.
Go Home or Die Here: Violence, Xenophobia and the Reinvention of Difference in South Africa, Wits University Press, Johannesburg, South Africa. There is no black in the rainbow (nation): A Bikoist and Fanonian approach to understanding xenophobic violence in South Africa. The politics of fear and the fear of politics: Reflections on xenophobic violence in South Africa.
Fremmedhad i Alexandra, Gone Home or Die Here: Violence, Xenophobia and the Reinvention of Differences in South Africa, Wits University Press, Johannesburg, Sydafrika.
Annexure: A
……… I was informed about a study entitled Adressing xenophobic violence in UMlazi suburb – Perceptions of a migrant family by Sphelelisiwe Magwaza. I had the opportunity to answer questions about my studies and got answers that satisfied me. I declare that my participation in this study is completely voluntary and that I can withdraw at any time without affecting the benefits to which I am normally entitled.
I have been informed of any compensation or medical treatment available if I am injured as a result of study-related procedures.
