South Africa Xenophobic Violence

[goodNumber10]

Haven't seen this discussed here yet, but have people been following this?

it's not been high profile here at all, but it's starting to get a lot of attention, and the British papers like the Guardian and Independent have been carrying it for a couple of days now (below)....seen some shockign videos posted on social media, but not 100% sure they are form these particular incidents.

What's the view on the ground from within SA?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...rced-to-hide-in-police-stations-10185346.html

http://www.newsweek.com/xenophobic-violence-south-africa-exposes-unresolved-tensions-323178

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32330386

 

[William18]

It may be somewhat surprising that people who have been oppressed would do this to another group of people. I guess it is more understandable when you look at these people's unemployment rates.

 

[spuitpoep]

It's not xenophobia its wanton criminality spawned from slothfulness and delusions of grandeur. They're not there to attack foreigners they just want an excuse to take free stuff.

 

[goodNumber10]

It's not xenophobia its wanton criminality spawned from slothfulness and delusions of grandeur. They're not there to attack foreigners they just want an excuse to take free stuff.

don't be daft.

 

[William18]

He might have a point. I think a lot of the protestors in Ferguson were genuine but a lot of the rioters who went into stores and stole stuff just wanted to take what they could get for free. I don't know whether the situations are comparable.

 

[goodNumber10]

Whilst there will always be chancers amidst things like this it would be very dangerous to dismiss this as common criminality.

Have seen some truly horrific images from the last few days.

 

[TRF_heineken]

oh it's a big problem here.

I had to go to a family reunion this weekend, but it got cancelled because of these attacks. Nobody wanted to be on the highways and run the risk of driving past a rural area and be thrown by bricks or rocks.

This is not new though, it started happening 2 years ago, but then it got stopped in its tracks. I think this time it's much worse, and it's because the Zulu King made a stupid comment and now his fellow "tribesman" are showing loyalty towards him. Part of this is also because of the inadequacy of our President, who is also a Zulu and on Thursday there were even questions asked in Parliament to the President regarding the laws of the traditional leaders (Zulu's, Xhosa's, Venda's etc.). There is an increasing fear that the traditional leaders have "cultural priveleges" and that they don't abide by the laws of the Republic, and that the Government is turning a blind eye with regards to this.

I read an article yesterday that Boko Haram has now issued a warning, that if the Xenophobic attacks continues, then they will start bombing us...