Coordinator’s Note: Xenophobia… is South Africa a crime scene?
The recent wave of violent attacks targeting foreign nationals living in South Africa has shattered the country’s reputation for tolerance and goodwill. The South African government has condemned these acts of violence, but insisted that it was not xenophobia but acts of criminality. Many have blamed senior government officials for triggering the violence due to the reckless statements they have been uttering in public. Many would recall, President Ramaphosa’s statements d