Xenephobia

Xenophobia in South Africa: Thabo Mbeki hasn’t Received the Memo Yet

It is unfortunate that South Africa, the economic power house of black Africa, has gone “south’ since Thabo Mbeki assumed office: His questionable “quiet diplomacy” with Robert Mugabe and statement on the election crisis; his failure to assume leadership position on the Darfur crisis; and his inability to curb the increasing rate of crime and unemployment all speak volumes. Even as xenophobic rage is consuming his nation, what did Mbeki do? He jumps on the plane and head for Tokyo, Japan!
When some frustrated black South Africans became consumed by rage of the worst kind, and descended on their immigrant brothers and sisters - killing in the goriest manner possible - the conscience of Mr. Thabo Mbeki ought to have spurred him into action to speak to the issue immediately. He could have been more visible. He chose not.
Although Mr. Mbeki has gone on air to speak to his nation - some call it “a rare televised national address”, waiting till Sunday to address his nation’s embarrassment, almost three weeks after violence commenced, is indicative of a man with severe moral lapses and poor leadership qualities.
Oh, I heard he was away when the attacks started. Is this an excuse?
Mr. Mbeki, just like any other president, has his media crew and political advisers with him at all time when on the road. He could have very well spoken from overseas – if he deemed it necessary and urgent. Better still, he could have jumped on the plane and return home – just like the Nigerian president did. Mr. Yar’Adua abandoned an event in Arusha, Tanzania and returned home immediately he heard of the death of some forty Nigerian soldiers killed in a road traffic accident. The soldiers were returning to their base after serving in a peace keeping mission.
How Mr. Mbeki could decide to abandon his burning cities and travel to Tokyo, Japan for a two-day meeting on African development is perplexing!
The report states that “Mbeki was later set to move on to Yokohama, southwest of the capital, where leaders of more than 40 African countries are due to meet on issues on poverty, the global food price crisis and development.”
African development?
As Thabo socializes with his counterparts in Japan, he needs to educated (and his African counterparts as well) that the antidote to Africa’s poverty and poor development can’t be found in foreign lands, but at home: By being socially responsible and sensitive to the people’s need and having the capacity to solve problems. It is this simple!
Watch this video clip and chew over the mess in South Africa. The violence against foreigners has killed 50 people and displaced tens of thousands: