The Paradox Of The Xenophobic Or Afrophobic Attacks In South Africa
The Oasis Reporters
October 28, 2026
Calls it whatever you wish either Afrophobia or Xenophobia, the victims are fellow Africans who had gone to the New South Africa or so they thought, of the post-apartheid era to share in the triumph of the liberation struggles.
They had a right to cross into Nelson Mandela’s South Africa because their countries of origin had contributed with their blood, sweat and lives to freeing that country from the obnoxious apartheid system.
Black South Africans eventually gained the right to vote in the first non racial political system, producing Nelson Mandela as the first Black President.
Not too long after Nelson Mandala, it soon became apparent that the expected benefits of political freedom would be slow, very slow in materializing, and given that the small businesses established by Blacks from mostly neighbouring countries were to thrive, cheap envy began to take hold.
The much promised Land Distribution was not materializing fast enough and the economy remained firmly in the hands of white South Africans.
Frustration began to set in but rather than putting pressure on the leadership for faster implementation of what was promised during the period of the struggle and given the fact that unemployment was not only rising, but becoming a serious concern, the frustration was directed at the migrants.
The fact that the economic conditions of the average South African had not changed significantly as may have been expected, the blame is currently being heaped on mostly migrants from neighboring countries.
The truth remains that political independence may have been gained but the economy is still firmly in the hands of the same South African whites. Land distribution which was a key demand during the apartheid struggle has hardly been implemented.
The frustration by the mainly young black South African population began to rise, with the anger, being directed against Black migrants. The excuse was that jobs were taken by the migrants whilst the South African blacks remained unemployed.
Another convenient excuse is that many of the migrants entered South Africa without valid documents. Because the leadership out there clearly abdicated in their responsibility to deal with the problem responsibly, the resentment grew to the level that gangs of angry and frustrated Black South Africans took the law into their own hands by attacking and ruining businesses as well as killing and maiming the Black migrants.
Governments of the neighbouring countries were compelled by the very circumstances of their citizens out there to begin repatriating them home.
As the mayhem increased in its ferocity, the gangs began marching along streets wielding and brandishing dangerous weapons and technically hunting down foreigners of African origin. For their safety, many of the migrants had to hurriedly abandon their business as well as their residences to holding areas where they hoped their home governments would arrange for their evacuation.
In all of this, the African Union technically looked on helplessly. It is so tragic that the Union which as the Organization of African Unity of that period worked so hard for the political liberation of South Africa from the vicious apartheid system could not coordinate an African response to the madness in South Africa. Affected African countries were now left to deal with the problem on an individual basis.
What has been going on in South Africa is clearly a reflection of the institutional weakness of the African Union. The South African White population who either directly through historical records are responsible for the condition of the Black majority population must have been having their fun given the current turn of events.
The South Africans who are now terrorizing black migrants with such contempt and hate must not fail to see through their folly as the white South Africans will be celebrating, popping up their champagne and sipping their whiskeys in entertainment.
The sight of the impoverished South African mobs marching along the streets bare chested, many struggling with their pot bellies bearing dangerous weapons immediately creates revulsion.
It can only be hoped that after all of the madness the condition of the Black South Africans will improve for the better. If anything at all, there can be no denying the very fact that the average Black South African is guilty of amnesia.
How could they have forgotten so soon the collective sacrifices of their black African brothers and sisters? Nelson Mandela and his generation of freedom fighters now largely departed must be rolling inside their graves over what is now playing out in the new South Africa that they sacrificed their lives for.
The other day I saw the South African President quibbling over the events in his country. He was to say that what is playing out is not in consonance with South African government policy. What a shame! The question though is what is Cyril Ramaphosa doing about it?
Who is going to compensate the departing so-called illegal immigrants for the loss of their property either looted, burnt or destroyed? It ought be noted also that the mayhem was directed not only at illegal immigrants but also those with valid papers.
I strongly hold the view that there should have been a well coordinated response by the AU and governments of the countries whose nationals have been affected by the Afrophobic attacks.
Surely, the South African government must not be allowed to get away with blue murder. In my country Nigeria, that is assuming that we have a sensible and patriotic leadership, all of South Africa’s companies doing business should have been kicked out. The policy of quid pro quo should be applied to send the clearest of messages to the South African government.
To God Be The Glory.
Written by Col. Dauda Gora (rtd).
He writes from Kaduna, north West Nigeria.
