Abstract:
This article argues that xenophobic acts towards black foreigners remain a human
rights challenge in South Africa. Foreign nationals, mostly black Africans, continue
to experience physical attacks, discrimination and looting of businesses, as well as
targeted crime. Prevalent xenophobic attitudes continue to trouble the conscience
of all well-meaning South Africans. There is ample evidence that xenophobia has
morphed into afro-phobia, the hatred of black foreigners. Xenophobia continues
to evolve and attackers are increasingly linking the presence of foreign nationals
to socio-economic challenges facing the country. This article argues that, even
though South Africa’s Constitution does not expressly identify Ubuntu as a national
value, it does recognize customary law and many of its provisions are anchored in
Ubuntu philosophy. This article proposes Ubuntu, or African “humanness” whose
“natural home” should be located in South Africa, as a pragmatic social intervention
and a morally sustainable solution to address xenophobia that would be acceptable
to both South Africans and foreign nationals.
