Category Archives: South Africa

The past several weeks have been a time of joy and pride not merely for the people of South Africa, but for all Africans as their continent for the first time was able to host World Cup games. Prior to opening of initial matches pessimists warned there would be violence and crime in South Africa because Africans were inherently savages. Of course, nothing of the sort ever happened and crime was minimal and there was no violence. Just as the myth of African violence was being put to rest, suicide bombers killed 64 in Uganda and Xenophobia emerged in Western Cape. Shops of foreigners living in South Africa were looted or torched by young men angry at those who were different or claiming foreigners were taking away their jobs. Over a hundred foreign nationals sought refuge in police stations. The ANC of Western Cape issued a statement urging all to “continue to demonstrate the spirit of humanity beyond the soccer spectacle by showing tolerance towards foreign nationals.”

It is not a coincidence that violence broke out just as the last match was being played. South Africa suffers from failures in Zimbabwe where Robert Mugabe has wrecked the economy and sent millions across the border seeking refuge in South Africa. The collapse of government or any sense of law and order in Somalia has also sent thousands to South Africa to escape the madness that now prevails in their nation–or what is left of that nation. Until these failed states are become healthy, the people of South Africa will continue having to deal with refugees when their resources are not sufficient to handle such an influx of people.