Make like a foreigner and leave

Discrimination in all its forms is in no way and form acceptable, but nothing makes my blood boil more than xenophobia and all the hostility it brings. This violation of human rights seems to be a common and disturbing phenomenon in South Africa, ironically. After many years of black Africans being systematically oppressed during apartheid, blacks still inflict upon others what was inflicted upon their race. I am not stating that they are the only perpetrators of xenophobia – xenophobia happens all around the world, by different races and to different races. Poor black on black xenophobic violence just seems more prevalent. I am simply stating that after the injustices that this country has faced, for blacks to practice the same cruelty that was imposed upon those before them, is just inhumane.

It seems to me that many South Africans forget that they are part of Africa. Africans share the same problems and South Africa is a developing country, just like the rest of the continent. The spate of xenophobic attacks that hit this country may be over but there are so many xenophobic incidents that go unnoticed. “Amakwerekwere” as foreigners are so insultingly called – and to me this is no different than calling a black a “kaffir” – are still beaten up, verbally abused and treated so unjustly by citizens and law enforcement forces alike, that I can’t stop to question what this world has come to. Being a foreigner myself, there are times when being associated with this country makes me sick.