Exploring Dimensions of Post-apartheid Xenophobic Sentiments towards African Immigrants in South Africa

S.M. Kang’ethe and V. Duma
Additional contact information
S.M. Kang’ethe: S.M. Kang’ethe, Department of Social Work and Social Development and the Department of Sociology, University of Fort Hare, South Africa. E-mail: skangethe@ufh.ac.za
V. Duma: V. Duma, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Fort Hare, South Africa. E-mail: vduma@ufh.ac.za

Insight on Africa, 2013, vol. 5, issue 2, 157-168

Abstract: The concept ‘xenophobia’ originates from the Greek word ‘xenos’ which means a ‘stranger’ or a ‘foreigner’ and ‘phobo’ meaning phobia which is an irrational fear of persons or groups that are regarded as ‘outsiders’. Episodes of xenophobia have occurred everywhere and anywhere in the world. Throughout human history, there have been variations in the expression of xenophobia – ranging from the Jewish holocaust, ethnic cleansing and genocide, on the one hand, to periodic and wanton outbursts of xenophobic violence on the other. The phenomenon of xenophobia is dreadful, especially when voices fostering national, regional and global peace are becoming louder every day. The task of cultivating and promoting peaceful co-existence, stability and development among the people of the world is a global imperative that should receive urgent attention. This article, through a literature review methodology, discusses the underpinnings of xenophobia in South Africa. The article has identified the following factors that underpin the phenomenon of xenophobia: historical dimensions; culture of crime and violence; economic deprivation and inequalities and disillusionment with unfulfilled socio-economic benefits. The article recommends the following strategies to address xenophobia: massive community education; addressing crime and violence; strengthening the legal and institutional frames and mitigating the state of poverty.

Keywords: Xenophobia; crime; apartheid; poverty; economic deprivation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0975087813512062 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:inafri:v:5:y:2013:i:2:p:157-168

DOI: 10.1177/0975087813512062

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Insight on Africa
Bibliographic data for series maintained by SAGE Publications ().