‘We Are Not Victims’: Anti-Migrant Violence Kills 6, 25,000 Flee South Africa
At least six people have been killed and more than 25,000 have fled South Africa in recent weeks as anti-migrant violence sweeps the country, driven by groups blaming foreigners for unemployment and crime [187753].
Just three decades after Nelson Mandela warned against hatred of foreigners, South Africa is again gripped by deadly anti-foreigner violence. At least six people have been killed in recent weeks, and thousands have fled the country [187753]. The unrest is driven by groups blaming migrants for unemployment, crime, and poor public services. On Tuesday, thousands marched in the streets, marking an arbitrary “deadline” set by campaign groups for foreigners to leave. In the days before, more than 25,000 people left South Africa. Some countries evacuated their nationals. Many individuals fled in fear [187753].
Mozambique reports that five of its citizens were killed in anti-foreigner attacks in May. Ghana says one of its citizens was killed on Monday, though South African officials have given different accounts. Migrants have also been blocked from hospitals and other services by groups like Operation Dudula and March & March [187753]. Thousands of migrants are now stranded in Musina, a South African town near the Beitbridge border crossing, with little food, water, or shelter. The situation has turned chaotic as displaced immigrants arrive in large numbers, overwhelming local resources. Authorities have not yet provided a clear plan to address the humanitarian crisis [187830].
The anti-immigration campaign has resulted in deaths, widespread displacement, and significant loss of income for local residents, according to reports. The campaign, which has targeted foreign nationals, has not achieved its stated goals but instead inflicted suffering on South Africans themselves [185239]. Malawians who fled the violence are now returning home to an uncertain future. Many abandoned jobs, homes, and belongings to escape the attacks. Back in Malawi, they face the difficult task of rebuilding their lives from scratch [186961].
Mandela once said: “We are not victims to the influx of foreign people.” Today, experts say leaders must have the courage to say the same: foreigners are not the cause of South Africa’s domestic problems [187753].