South Africa: Xenophobic Violence Has Ended But Foreigners Still Feel Unsafe

allAfrica.com: South Africa: Xenophobic Violence Has Ended But Foreigners Still Feel Unsafe

Wilson Johwa

11 May 2009

Johannesburg — JEFFREY Ramohlale, the man after whom a Pretoria informal settlement is named, gives a calm assurance that foreigners have returned to Jeffsville after last year's xenophobic attacks.

The attacks took place weeks after mobs had set off against perceived outsiders in nearby Iirileng. But Ramohlale says Pakistanis, more than other nationalities, have since moved back in, taking over spaza shops in which they also live. "There is no more fear among the foreigners," he claims.

However, a report by the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in SA (Cormsa) says that exactly a year after Alexandra residents turned on their foreigners, the foreigners are still insecure. Little has been done to address the root causes of the violence and, as a result, threats of violence against foreigners remain common in some communities.

The accountability of those responsible for public violence remains minimal, while too few perpetrators of last year's violence have been prosecuted, Cormsa says. It also feels insufficient investigations have been conducted into those responsible for instigating and fuelling the violence, and says the state has held no public inquiry.

Sixty-two people, including 21 South Africans, died and thousands were made homeless when locals turned on their foreign neighbours, beginning in Alexandra. After two weeks and the deployment of the army, the violence subsided, having spread to other informal settlements and townships across the country.

However, Cormsa say since then further threats of violence against non-nationals have occurred in places like Diepsloot, Tsakane, Potchefstroom and Erasmia. In the absence of sufficient conflict-resolution mechanisms, it has largely been left to the police and a few well-intentioned individuals to prevent violence. "No government department takes responsibility to consistently address such conflict."

A planned inquiry by the South African Human Rights Commission is yet to start. A report by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) ascribed the violence to local-level politics, especially competition by unelected officials running a plethora of competing structures such as street committees and various other associations. It found little evidence to support early accounts blaming the violence on a "third force", poor border controls or rising food prices.

Watson Nxele, chairman of the community policing forum in Atteridgeville, says as long as the needs of locals are not addressed the area will remain volatile. He blames the plethora of "civic" organisations under which community leaders rent out shacks and collect money to solve local issues. "These offices actually undermine government; they operate as parallel structures and no-go areas," he says.

Nxele says since last year's violence there are still almost 50 foreigners living at a shelter in Pretoria. Policing much of the informal area is a nightmare. There are no proper roads and lighting, and the shacks are not clearly numbered. Illegal activity abounds, he says.

An offshoot of Atteridgeville, Jeffsville lies at the heart of one of Gauteng's service delivery trouble spots. Encompassing some adjoining informal settlements, it is as old as it is controversial.

It is a weird place where, amid dirt roads, flowing sewage and choking weeds, a section of the shacks is electrified. Leading up to the elections , many residents refused to register to vote, saying they were tired of politicians' promises.

Ramohlale, clearly a man who holds sway in the area, says housing is the main priority. He feels the local councillor is ineffective and has since moved out of the area. "You see, when you are a leader you have to live with the same people you are leading," he says.

He also accuses the Tshwane municipality of ignoring what residents have to say, resulting in outsiders, including foreigners, getting the new RDP houses that are taking shape not far from the offices of the Jeffsville Residents' Association, which he chairs. He would like the local authority to revert to the old method where at public meetings the residents' association would announce the names of beneficiaries. "We are the ones who know this place in and out," he says.