In this edition – July 30, 2008

Welcome to the third edition of the Khanya Journal for 2008

This issue is a follow up edition to the Racism and Xenophobia edition we published earlier in May. In that edition, we sought to explain

the trends in the migration of people from the South to the North and, within the South, from the poor countries to the relatively better off ones. We located the major causes of this migration within the broader effects of the advancement of capitalism in its current manifestation, neo-liberalism. We argued that in an increasingly globalised world, where the advancement of capitalism has left many Southern economies devastated, the movement of people from country to country always follows the movement of capital. We also pointed out that this movement has

led to tensions within the ‘receiving’ countries, where the working class and the poor are forced into stiffer competition for scarce resources with migrants.

Since the publication of that edition, South Africa has been gripped in a wave of xenophobic violence that has left the world shocked. The violence started on May 11th 2008 from the Gauteng township of Alexandra and soon caught up to other areas such

as Diepsloot, Cleveland, Malvern and Jeppestown. Soon afterwards, it spread to the rest of the country’s Provinces, with the exception of the Eastern Cape. The violence – which left as many as 62 dead, more than 17 000 displaced and about 1 400 arrested – was especially bloody in the informal settlements and

in the townships, where the local poor vented their frustration on foreigners, blaming them for taking their houses, jobs and, at times, their women. Horrific images of people being burnt to death or ‘necklaced’

– the apartheid style method of killing reserved for sell-outs – caught the attention of the local and world media. The displaced immigrants were relocated to makeshift refugee camps, especially in the hardest hit provinces of Gauteng and the Western Cape.

While the initial government response was to claim that a ‘third force’ was behind the violence, independent analysts pointed out that

frustration with lack of service delivery and general impoverishment in the informal settlements and townships directly led to the violence. Many South Africans were united in their condemnation of the violence, with some questioning the government’s sluggishness in nipping it in the bud, especially as it became clear to all that it would reach uncontrollable levels if it was not dealt with decisively. Several anti- xenophobia marches were held around the country by progressive organisations and individuals, and when the violence had abated, the government declared June 24th as a National Day of Mourning to honour the victims of the shocking violence. Still, many people were left asking themselves how did this come about and how could it have happened in South Africa, a country that has been dubbed the ‘Rainbow Nation’?

This bumper edition of the Khanya Journal seeks to contribute to that debate, as we seek to find answers to how this could have happened, and strive to curb all forms of discrimination and inequality in our communities. From time to time, the Khanya Journal Collective issues an editorial statement in which we give our analysis of unfolding political developments. Accompanying this edition is one such statement in which we focus on xenophobia and we argue that the outbreak of xenophobic violence we witnessed in May 2008 was not primarily caused by the presence of African immigrants in South Africa. The outbreak was a product of the responses of specific social classes (in particular, the trading petty-bourgeoisie in the townships) to the unfolding global economic crisis that has manifested itself in high oil and food prices, and growing unemployment and impoverishment. These reactionary classes were able to gain political hegemony in the townships and to promote their views and ways of resolving the problems thrown up by the economic crisis primarily because of the weakness of working

class organisations, and of the social movements in particular. We argue that unless the structural and political weaknesses of the working class formations are addressed, other political forces will continue

to set the agenda in the townships and the working class will continue to be used as canon fodder for their political ends.

Our first article after the editorial is by Maria van Driel in which she argues that the presence of African nationals in South Africa must be understood

against the background of South Africa’s position as a continental economic superpower. She argues that the main sponsors of the xenophobic responses to the economic crisis are the trading petty-bourgeoisie in the townships. The article is a response to a Times interview that was done by Sunday Times political writer, Moipone Malefane on Sociology Professor

at Johannesburg’s University of the Witwatersrand, Sakhela Buhlungu. A direct transcription of this interview is made available elsewhere in this Journal.

In a critique on the state’s response to outbreak of xenophobic violence, Dale McKinley argues that the state’s tardy response to curb the violence can only be understood in the context of the narrow, chauvinistic nationalist agenda that the ‘new’ South African leadership has relentlessly pursued and encouraged since 1994. The violence, he argues, combined with

the socio-economic impacts of neo-liberalism, was a child of the state’s creation.

The critique is followed by an interview by Mondli Hlatshwayo on Marc Gbaffou, the Chairperson of the African Diaspora Forum (ADF). The interview seeks to solicit the work being done by immigrant organisations in South Africa, and their responses to the recent xenophobic violence. It also tackles the problems of organising immigrants living in South Africa, some of which include language and cultural differences.

Next, Mhlobo Gunguluzi traces the evolution of the Coalition Against Xenophobia (CAX), an umbrella organisation that was formed by social movements

in response to the outbreak of xenophobic violence. He details the events leading to the formation of the Coalition, as well its mandate. Duduzile Mabaso then gives us a personal reflection of the May 24th Anti-xenophobia march that was organised by the Coalition, culminating in the handing over of a Memorandum of demands to the government (see

‘Documents section’ for this Memo). The march was attended by about 6 000 people, including immigrant organisations, local movements, religious groups, film and labour unions, and individual activists. In his two articles, Oupa Lehulere argues that the long-term solution to the problems of xenophobia is a policy of open borders, and also discusses elements of the political work that movements need to do to prevent future outbreaks.

education section

In keeping with the theme of xenophobia and violence, this edition’s Education section touches on the history of violence against minorities – focusing

on pogroms and genocide. Here, Ishmael Lesufi looks at experiences of violence against minorities, focusing on three examples: anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia; Anti-Jewish progoms in Germany; and the genocide in Rwanda. This explores the dynamics of these acts of mass violence directed at minorities with a specific focus on the underlying causal factors; social composition of forces carrying out these attacks; methods used; victims of such attacks; and the role of authorities and governments. What

emerges from the three examples is that although the attacks assume ethnic and racial character, the main driving dynamic is political issues.

 

study groups corner

Unlike in the previous editions where this section was dedicated to featuring the different Khanya Journal Study Groups, this time around, we are featuring a report of the discussions that the Journal Study Groups had on the events that

led to the xenophobic violence. The discussions, which were held over two weekends, focussed on what happened; the causes of xenophobia; and

the solutions to combating xenophobia in our communities. The report was compiled by Ighsaan Schroeder and Mhlobo Gunguluzi.

 

documents section and barometer

This edition’s Documents section carries the Coali- tion Against Xenophobia Memorandum that was handed over to the Gauteng Legislature during the

24th May 2008 CAX march, as well as the Pledge of Solidarity to immigrant communities that was read out on the same occasion. This is followed by an ex- tract released by the Cosatu Central Executive Com- mittee on 28th May, 2008. The final two documents carried in the edition are the East London Declara- tion against xenophobia, and the Merafong Demar- cation Forum statement welcoming immigrants to come and stay in Khutsong if they so wish.

This is followed by our standard Barometer of resistance, which this time is dated from 18th February to 6th June 2008.

We hope that you find the Journal informative and interesting. Enjoy reading it.

 

yours in the struggle against all forms of discrimination and inequality!

 

fortune sibanda (Convening editor)