Business Day (Johannesburg)
22 Mai 2008
UP TO 30000 people were now displaced in Gauteng as a result of the recent violent attacks, Bishop Paul Verryn of the Central Methodist Church said yesterday.
[ See Article ]
Xenophobia: what does this word mean? It means chauvinism, racial intolerance, racism, dislike of foreigners.
The antonym (opposite meaning) is “TOLERANCE”. I would say that the acts of South African citizens have displayed more xenophobia than loving tolerance, despite the strenuous denials of the political leadership. Yes, they are criminal acts, but they are XENOPHOBIC criminal acts against BLACK African foreigners in South Africa.
I am certainly not one to brand an entire country xenophobic, but when enough of its citizens gather to pillage, maim and even rape and kill and the vast majority and the entire security apparatus of the government is unable to stop it and protect innocents, then South Africa and South Africans need to ask themselves long hard questions.
South Africans: your people, your leaders, brothers, sisters, freedom fighters, they stayed in our countries as asylum seekers, they were clothed and fed, treated for wounds, given medicines, given guns and political backing. Your neighbours, the same ones you are beating now for visiting your country – they also had the apartheid regime bomb, beat and maltreat them – because in your time of need they stood with you. We paid special taxes and contributions that were given to your leaders to help fight for your freedom. Without our sheltering them, Umkhontho we Sizwe would not have survived and achieved the success they did. Without we your African brothers and sisters adding our voices and efforts to yours, you would still be labouring under the yoke of apartheid today.
South Africans: today we are in need; we have come to you – our parents, brothers, sisters in our time of need. And you have beaten, maimed, raped and killed us, instead of giving us succour. Why?
Call a spade a spade: there are attacks on African foreigners by South African citizens. The PEOPLE and Government of South Africa need to respond to this and protect Black African Foreigners in South Africa. "EVIL FLOURISHES WHERE GOOD MEN (AND WOMEN) DO NOTHING".
equanamity@gmail.com
As I said earlier tribalism continues.