Once again the world awoke to the news of Africans drowning in the Mediterranean, The Cape Times headline “Capsized boat: 700 feared dead” is neither the first nor the last headline of its type.
The media also stated that the President decided not to go overseas as he was fretful with the xenophobic violence consuming the country. At the same time analysts want to understand why it is, that whenever there is a problem our political leaders look for third force activity. A child knows that when you reward ineptitude with senior position in government then disaster can be expected.
Example, by allowing millions of economic migrants into South Africa, did politicians expected poor locals to embrace the increasing competition? Questions that remain include: what is the purpose of border control and what exactly is the role of our military if not to ensure national stability. Is it not obvious that the police are swamped with increasing criminality and have limited resources to spend on xenophobic inspired criminality?
Now smug racists and colonial supporters feel vindicated by South Africa’s global disgrace as xenophobia is regarded as black on black violence and thus black on black racism.
It is ironic that while Africans at UCT seek to free themselves from a repressive colonial past, by seeking transformation, other African are killing fellow African in Johannesburg and Durban.
At the same time Africans from across the continent are fleeing back to colonial Europe to escape home grown African tyranny and poverty.
Cllr Yagyah Adams
Cape Muslim Congress