Whether they are fleeing from political turmoil, poverty or fear, they look at South Africa as a beacon of hope – a place where they can start over and call home. Johannesburg, the City of Gold, is a place they think their dreams will turn into reality. Unfortunately, Gauteng residents are not as accepting as foreigners think they’ll be and immigrants soon realise that although they are simply trying to start over – they are not always welcome.
According to a survey released by the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO), 35 percent of people living in the region want foreigners to be sent home.
The GCRO, which is a partnership between the University of Witwatersrand, The University of Johannesburg and government, had 27 000 respondents in its survey and aims to reveal key insights into the lives and opinions of Gauteng residents.
Well, what an insight this statistic revealed.
While I am aware that xenophobia is rife in parts of Gauteng, and many South African’s believe foreign nationals are stealing jobs away from locals, I never realised the stats were so high. I have always thought that we lived in an age where, for the most part, we tolerate each other. I love to think that Johannesburg is cosmopolitan, where people from all walks of life come together with a common goal… I am sad to say that maybe I have been a little naive in my thinking.
I love meeting new people and get so excited when I am introduced to someone who is not South African. I listen to their stories, hear how they are contributing to society and get excited at the prospect that Johannesburg has been a new start for them. Hearing their stories makes me proud to be a Joburg resident, but this statistic makes me feel ashamed.
Are we so selfish that we can only think of ourselves? Would we really send a foreigner back to their home county, knowing that the life they would face would be one driven by fear and anxiety?
I love Joburg – I love the people and I love the lifestyle we live. What I do not love is the hatred. During apartheid, many South Africans fled to bordering countries seeking political exile. Those countries, for the most part, accepted us with open arms. Surly we should be doing the same thing for foreigners who come to us seeking help?
I am not asking people to open their doors and invite people over for dinner – I am simply asking for a little bit of tolerance. Is that too much to ask?
