According to a 2005 report, South Africa is the number one destination for foreign students in Africa. Considering the fact that a South African University education will cost a foreign student one-third of what he or she would have spent in Britain or the United States, as well as the relative closeness to home and the quality of education the country can boast of, this is a good deal. But, with the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, it has become a tricky, more dangerous deal.
Elizabeth Johnson left Nigeria four years ago to study law at North-West University, in South Africa. Although, killing of foreigners in the country by a section of disgruntled youths may come as a surprise to many across the globe, she says that Xenophobia in itself is not a new phenomenon in the country. She told Saturday School Life, SSL that “there is nothing really surprising about it.
Xenophobia has always been a lifestyle that sufficed across the country only that one couldn’t have imagined that it will escalate up to the current level after so many years of civilisation.”
Zimbabwean, Nomatter Ndebele who recently graduated from journalism school at the University of the Witwatersrand is very surprised at the turn of events in the country she has come to call home. Her country, along with Botswana and Namibia, is one of the biggest providers of students to South African universities. Her words: “I am very surprised at these attacks. I have studied in South Africa all my life; at every level.
After the 2008 Xenophobic attacks I really thought that the general idea amongst the masses was that it was a terrible and an unjust thing. People were so outraged, that I never imagined that they would willingly go back to that place.”
Johnson on the other hand, admits that “insecurity raged severally as soon as her peers spotted her as a “foreigner.” ‘I have encountered xenophobia on several occasions since I came here, but you just have to continue to keep your head high! The fact that I could not speak or understand any of the 12 official languages in my first days in the Republic deterred me severally from getting assistance from natives.”
Ironically, Xenophobia seems to be the case of the Black South Africans. Foreign students told SSL that most often the whites are always of assistance, easily approachable and easy to get along with. ‘It doesn’t makes sense,” says Johnson. “There really isn’t any reason to hate a fellow black African or any foreigner for that matter.
As there are foreigners in South Africa so also do we have South Africans as foreigners in other countries. Foreigners pay taxes and add to the development of the country sometime we pay double to get services. South Africans in the days of Apartheid sought refuge in other countries and were accepted with love. Why should they decide to pay back with so much hatred?”
Individuals and groups responsible for Xenophobic attacks blame foreigners for taking opportunities meant for indigenous South Africans. But Johnsons brings in logic to this twisted tale. Why should an uneducated person think that a qualified medical Doctor from another African country is the reason for his unemployment?
People travel long distances not to play but to work hard. Xenophobia, I believe, is an extension of racism. Knowledge and exposure still has a paramount role to play. Everyone is a stranger somewhere. I love South Africa. It’s so beautiful here with the European weather to go with; fascinating Landscape, Mountains and Wild life. We are one Africa, and we should stick together and say no to Xenophobia.’
The latest wave of xenophobic attacks has left seven people dead, hundreds injured, and thousands without a place to call home.
Elizabeth Johnson left Nigeria four years ago to study law at North-West University, in South Africa. Although, killing of foreigners in the country by a section of disgruntled youths may come as a surprise to many across the globe, she says that Xenophobia in itself is not a new phenomenon in the country. She told Saturday School Life, SSL that “there is nothing really surprising about it.
Xenophobia has always been a lifestyle that sufficed across the country only that one couldn’t have imagined that it will escalate up to the current level after so many years of civilisation.”
Zimbabwean, Nomatter Ndebele who recently graduated from journalism school at the University of the Witwatersrand is very surprised at the turn of events in the country she has come to call home. Her country, along with Botswana and Namibia, is one of the biggest providers of students to South African universities. Her words: “I am very surprised at these attacks. I have studied in South Africa all my life; at every level.
After the 2008 Xenophobic attacks I really thought that the general idea amongst the masses was that it was a terrible and an unjust thing. People were so outraged, that I never imagined that they would willingly go back to that place.”
Johnson on the other hand, admits that “insecurity raged severally as soon as her peers spotted her as a “foreigner.” ‘I have encountered xenophobia on several occasions since I came here, but you just have to continue to keep your head high! The fact that I could not speak or understand any of the 12 official languages in my first days in the Republic deterred me severally from getting assistance from natives.”
Ironically, Xenophobia seems to be the case of the Black South Africans. Foreign students told SSL that most often the whites are always of assistance, easily approachable and easy to get along with. ‘It doesn’t makes sense,” says Johnson. “There really isn’t any reason to hate a fellow black African or any foreigner for that matter.
As there are foreigners in South Africa so also do we have South Africans as foreigners in other countries. Foreigners pay taxes and add to the development of the country sometime we pay double to get services. South Africans in the days of Apartheid sought refuge in other countries and were accepted with love. Why should they decide to pay back with so much hatred?”
Individuals and groups responsible for Xenophobic attacks blame foreigners for taking opportunities meant for indigenous South Africans. But Johnsons brings in logic to this twisted tale. Why should an uneducated person think that a qualified medical Doctor from another African country is the reason for his unemployment?
People travel long distances not to play but to work hard. Xenophobia, I believe, is an extension of racism. Knowledge and exposure still has a paramount role to play. Everyone is a stranger somewhere. I love South Africa. It’s so beautiful here with the European weather to go with; fascinating Landscape, Mountains and Wild life. We are one Africa, and we should stick together and say no to Xenophobia.’
The latest wave of xenophobic attacks has left seven people dead, hundreds injured, and thousands without a place to call home.
