The causes and implications of violent attacks on foreigners in South Africa

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to identify factors which explain why certain South Africans have taken the law into their own hands and launched a campaign against certain foreigners, which very rapidly transformed into violent conflict, and what the main implications of these attacks are, specifically in the security sphere. To achieve this aim, the study provides a conceptual framework based on the broadened concept of security and the increasing emphasis on threats to societal security in addition to state security, as well as the increasing emphasis on non-military threats such as mass migration. The study analyses attacks on foreigners between 1994 and 2009 with some reference to incidents in 2010. The study further discusses and analyses the causes of the 2008 and 2009 attacks on foreigners in South Africa, and the economic, diplomatic, and security implications of the attacks. Official and unofficial South African views, and international perceptions and views relating to the causes and effects of the attacks, are also included. The study concludes that foreigners from African countries were targeted because they were easily recognised and also because they lived alongside the perpetrators competing for scarce resources. How the foreigners came to reside in South Africa, whether legally, illegally, or as refugees or asylum-seekers, seemed to be irrelevant. Early indicators and warnings regarding the attacks were available, but not sufficient to provide actionable intelligence, and some warnings were not followed up. The economic recession in South Africa; poor local service delivery, and the continuous flow of illegal foreigners and refugees to South Africa may have been some of the factors responsible for attacks on foreigners between 1994 and 2007. The May 2008 attacks however seemed to be caused by more than just these factors, some of which were already previously evident in certain areas, for instance business competition which seemed to be the main underlying motive for attacks on Somalis during this time. Other factors include the absence of effective local authorities; absence of legitimate leadership; criminal elements, and the role of the media. Copyright