Xenophobic attacks in South Africa are a symptom of bigger problems

The ugly cycle of xenophobic attacks on African immigrants in South Africa visited us again this week. Beginning Sunday and targeting foreign-owned enterprises, crowds of South Africans looted shops and set vehicles on fire. At least ten people have been killed. Most of the immigrants affected were Nigerian, a fact that prompted retaliatory attacks against South African businesses in Nigeria.

The attacks betray a couple of things about Africa, and South Africa in particular. First, the continent was painfully reminded of how little societies the world over value African lives – even in Africa. As many observers were quick to point out, Africans are not the only immigrants in South Africa and comprise a miniscule share of the South African population. But it is Africans that get targeted. These attacks should be seen for what they are: a sick manifestation of internalised anti-blackness among South Africans. Sadly, the anti-black sentiments exhibited by South Africans extends north of the Limpopo. Throughout Africa, our leaders treat us like trash. Like South Africa’s xenophobic hooligans, they too betray their internalised anti-blackness through theft of public resources, disregard for the crushing levels of poverty afflicting their people, and persistent violence and brutality. They have no shame.