Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study seeks to understand the causes and nature of xenophobia in South Africa. It
investigates this through the case of De Doorns, where in November 2009 3000
Zimbabweans were chased out of their homes, which were subsequently looted and
destroyed. This case was chosen because it is an example of a xenophobic incident
that went beyond xenophobic attitudes to manifest in violent behaviour towards
African migrants.
The study was guided though three questions. (1) How can the violent
xenophobic attacks in De Doorns be explained? (2) Do the explanations for
xenophobia offer sufficient explanation for the causes and nature of xenophobia in De
Doorns? (3) Are the causes for xenophobia still evident in De Doorns? To answer the
first and third questions key informant interviews with relevant organisations were
conducted with Agri Wes-Cape, the Hex River Valley Table Grape Association and
People Against Suffering, Oppression and Poverty (PASSOP). In addition, published
work (reports and an article) has been analysed. To answer the second question,
literature on the topic of xenophobia was reviewed and the findings compared to the
answers found for the first question. The key findings in this study were, firstly, that the causes for xenophobia
were twofold: there was a context and there were underlying causes; in addition there
were specific triggers for the xenophobia. This twofold explanation is evident in
Horowitz’s ethnic violence theory, where he takes into consideration both external
contextual causes and immediate locality-bound causes. The context was the farming
community of De Doorns, characterised by casual work, job insecurity and (often)
poor living conditions. The underlying causes were found to be locals’ frustration
with and perceptions of Zimbabweans; this led to the development of xenophobic
attitudes. In addition, labour brokers were found to have worsened the situation by
encouraging causal work and by skimming off workers’ payments. Government
insufficiencies were also an underlying condition: there was lack in an early warning
system and there were service delivery failures. These underlying conditions gave a
breeding ground for the triggers of the violence to operate. These triggers were found
to be of a local political character, and these highlighted the explanatory value of
Misago’s micropolitics theory. A local councillor stirred up the xenophobia to gain
popularity for re-election before the upcoming local government elections. From this it is found that with similar or worse underlying condition xenophobia could flourish,
given the ‘right’ triggers. This is an important finding in light of the up coming local
government elections in 2016. In terms of the nature of the xenophobia in South
Africa, it is argued that this often goes beyond the expression of xenophobic attitudes,
and takes the form of violent xenophobic behaviour which is usually targeted at black
African migrants. Explanations for this violence have historical roots in the armed
struggle and it illicits a response from government. Why black Africans? Their
proximity and their vulnerability are put forward as explanations, though it is also
recognized that current explanations are insufficient. / AFRIKKANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie se oogmerk is om die oorsake en aard van xenofobie in Suid-Afrika te
verstaan. Dit word ondersoek deur die geval van De Doorns, waartydens November
2009 3000 Zimbabwiërs uit hul huise gejaag is wat geplunder en vernietig is. Hierdie
geval is gekies omdat dit ‘n voorbeeld van ‘n xenofobiese geval is wat verder as die
xenofobiese houdings gegaan het om in gewelddadige gedrag teenoor immigrante uit
Afrika te manifesteer.
Die studie is deur drie vrae gelei: (1) Hoe kan die gewelddadige xenofobiese
aanvalle in De Doorns verduidelik word? (2) Bied die verduidelikings vir xenofobie
genoegsame verduideliking vir die oorsake en aard van xenofobie in De Doorns? (3)
Is die oorsake van xenofobie steeds sigbaar in De Doorns? Om die eerste en derde
vrae te beantwoord is sleutel informante onderhoude met relevante organisasies
gevoer naamlik Agri Wes-Kaap, Die Hexriviervallei Tafeldruif Vereniging en People
Against Suffering, Oppression and Poverty (PASSOP). Daarby is gepubliseerde werk
(verslae en ‘n artikel) ook ontleed. Om die tweede vraag te beantwoord is literatuur
oor die onderwerp van xenofobie hersien en die bevindinge vergelyk met die
antwoorde op die eerste vraag. Die sleutel bevindings in hierdie studie was eerstens dat die oorsake vir
xenofobie tweeledig was: daar was ‘n konteks en onderliggende oorsake; daar was
ook bykomende snellers vir die xenofobie. Hierdie tweeledige verduideliking is
duidelik in Horowitz se etniese geweldsteorie, waar hy beide eksterne kontekstuele
oorsake en onmiddelike ligging-gebonde oorsake. Die konteks was die
plaasgemeenskap van De Doorns wat gekenmerk is deur informele werk,
werksonsekerheid, en (dikwels) swak lewensomstandighede. Hierdie onderliggende
oorsake is bevind om die plaaslike inwoners se frustrasie met en siening van
Zimbabwiërs te wees; dit het aanleiding gegee tot xenofobiese houdings. Daar is
verder gevind dat arbeidsmakelaars die situasie vererger het deur die aanmoediging
van informele werk en die afskeer van werkers se betalings. Regeringstekortkominge
was ook ‘n onderliggende oorsaak: daar was ‘n gebrek aan ‘n vroeë
waarskuwingstelsel terwyl diensverskaffing ook misluk het. Hierdie onderliggende
toestande het ‘n broeiplek aan die snellers van die geweld gegee om te funksioneer.
Daar is bevind dat die snellers ‘n plaaslike politieke karakter gehad het en beklemtoon
die verklarende waarde van Misago se mikro-politieke teorie. ‘n Plaaslike raadslid het die xenofobie aangewakker om gewildheid te verwerf vir herverkiesing voor die
toekomstige plaaslike verkiesings. Vanuit hierdie is daar bevind dat xenofobie met
soortgelyke of erger onderliggende toestande kan floreer, met die ‘regte’ snellers. Dit
is ‘n belangrike bevinding in die lig van die toekomstige plaaslike
regeringsverkiesings in 2016. In terme van die aard van xenofobie in Suid-Afrika
word daar gearguenteer dat dit dikwels verder gaan as die uitdrukking van
xenofobiese houdings en die vorm neem van gewelddadige xenofobiese gedrag wat
dikwels op swart immigrante van Afrika gemik is. Verklarings vir hierdie geweld het
geskiedkundige oorsake in die gewapende stryd en ontlok ‘n reaksie van die regering.
Hoekom swart Afrikane? Hulle nabyheid en kwesbaarheid word aangebied as
verklarings terwyl dit egter ook herken word dat huidige verklarings onvoldoende is.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/95829 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Hagensen, Live |
| Contributors | De Jager, Nicola, Stellenbosch University.Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | x, 88 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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