Today, I write with a very sad heart. My fellow South Africans are killing Africans. These attacks have mainly started in Johannesburg, where my family lives. It expanded from there to a lot of other places in the country.
Xenophobia: "deep-rooted, irrational hatred towards foreigners". Xenophobia happens when a population group present within a society that is not considered part of that society. Often they are recent immigrants, but xenophobia may be directed against a group which has been present for centuries, or became part of this society through conquest and territorial expansion. This form of xenophobia can elicit or facilitate hostile and violent reactions, such as mass expulsion of immigrants, pogroms or in other cases, genocide.
I love South-Africa and the diversity we have in this country. We are diverse in so many ways that other countries should be jealous. South-Africa has many cultures, races, religions, etc. We are a rainbow nation. But with these attacks it doesn't feel like we are a rainbow nation.
But it saddens me so much that people are killing others, just because they aren't South Africans. Where is your humanity? I take it as a compliment when people from Africa want to come and live in South-Africa for work. It tells me that South-Africa has done something right.
Nando's, a fast food company, made this ad a few years ago. It is a bit humorous, but behind the humor, there is a bitter truth.
How can you hate so much, that you kill?
Follow these hashtags:
#NoToXenophobia
#AfricaIsForAllAfricans
