Our View #20

The late Ghanaian president, Kwame Nkrumah once declared a United States of Africa when he preached Africanism in the 1950s. He was right, but look at what is happening right now with all the xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals here in South Africa.

History is working against us as a nation because our leaders in government were around when people like Nkrumah campaigned for a United States of Africa, which eventually gave birth to the likes of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which was later transformed to become the African Unity (AU) where our very own Nkosazana Zuma is holding a senior position.

However, look at what is happening on our shores. It is disgusting to say the least. Who holds the blame for the disunity and apparent anarchy that is going on? History will judge us as South Africans. Think about all the years our people spent in exile in African countries, but never were they subjected to such anarchy and rejection.

Today we have a freedom which we inherited through the joint effort of all African countries, and now that we’re right and have it all, we reject them. Have our leaders ever educated ordinary South Africans who do not understand politics about the sufferings that other African folk are facing back in their countries?

Do ordinary people ever take an interest in following news about the ongoing wars in those countries so as to feel for the plight that some of these African brothers and sisters are facing?

The answer seems to be a stern no, because they wouldn’t be treating them in this manner if they had this African brotherliness.

During their years in exile our own folks were well documented by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The OAU recognised them as refugees in those countries, not as illegal immigrants.

We know there is an uncontrolled influx of illegal immigrants into this country. Some have been convicted of various serious crimes. What is Home Affairs doing about it?

There is also the corruption by officials who illegally sell RDP houses to some illegal foreigners, which is also part of what has perpetrated the hatred that has surfaced against foreigners in this country.

Another biting issue is the success by foreigners in their small businesses across the country and in all corners, but is that part of business beneficial to the country as it is seemingly unregulated?

The government needs to take a strong stance on this issue because it has begun to affect all South Africans doing business in African countries. We face boycotts from those countries.