Riot and xenophobia in South Africa

Some 6,000 people have fled a wave of attacks on foreigners in South Africa, which has left at least 22 dead, aid workers say.

South Africa has always been considered one of the most dangerous countries, with a high rate of murders and armed attacks. The black leadership seems to have failed to implement the principles of South Africa for all South Africans. During the apartheid era, the wide economic gap was between whites and blacks. Now the gap has widened even among blacks themselves. There are ultra rich blacks as there ultra poor blacks. With the influx of foreigners, especially from Zimbabwe, black South Africans must feel under economic invaders. But the blames shouldn’t be put on this “invaders” but on the SA government policies which have so far failed to bridge the gap between the-have and the-have-not.

The current troubles seem not to have occurred at a good time for South Africa, as it is just two years away from holding the 2010 World Cup. This must be a signal to it on how events can turn up then. Sport events have become occasions to express political discontent. The situation in Tibet was highlighted during the Olympic torch tour as well as with demonstrations in Tibet and in many places around the world.

Disadvantaged South Africans can use the 2010 World Cup to stage civil disobedience and to turn their areas into disaster zones if their government doesn’t work right away to solve their urgent problems. This is not good for the image of South Africa, supposed to represent the African continent.

Apartheid in South Africa is now a matter of the past. The struggle to end white minority rule is over. The burden now is on the current black leadership to engage in ending social strife. Otherwise, poor Africans will have no means but to attack the unprotected foreigners who they think, rightly or wrongly, behind their current difficult situation.