By Ainsley Daniels
Since the end of the World Cup, there's been a spike in violence and threats against black foreigners living in South Africa.
We asked our readers: "Are the attacks on foreigners: Opportunistic crimes or Xenophobia"
Of the 994 people who participated in the poll; 56 percent (558 votes) said "Opportunistic crimes" and 44 percent (436 votes) said "Xenophobia"
Here are some of the comments:
Jenny
Its nothing but Opportunistic crimes it is not Xenophobia, if one looks at the news not all people want foreigners out of SA, as they offer credit is open late. But with the criminals driving them out who is taking over the business???? They are standing empty, so to me that is just Gangsters causing problems.
Mhlungu Mkhulu
These attacks on foreigners are a combination of xenophobia and criminality as well as, lets be honest. pure racism. The threat has always been there since 2008, when the properties of foreigners were openly looted and people were murdered, some even burnt to death. I don't think anyone has ever even been charged for those despicable crimes against humanity. Yet more people were murdered due to xenephobia in 2008, than those murdered at Sharpville in 1960 during the apartheid era. Both were crimes against humanity as declared by the United Nations.
God will punish wicked SA for this
There's a fine line between the two options but this is xenophobic racism as many are poor refugees with nothing much to steal except their lives? Why are locals allowed to freely engage this. Why was the guy who incited violence not arrested and charged. What is the ancyl doing saying about this? Are they silent partners? I haven't heard many poliitians really condemn this and act accordinly. Many are happy to get rid of these helpless human beings and there families. It is a sin to do this and we will have to reckon with someone bigger than all of us and will surely be punished for this atrocity. Leaders and all involved.
Elizabeth
Our very lazy people are just totally jealous of the entrepreneurial skills of those who come into the country. Why don't they get off their fat backsides & go earn a living instead of standing on street corners and then making 'demunds' through those useless people at COSATU!! As for nationalization of the mines ... well, we'd have no workers because most of them come from far flung places!
Anonymous
These attacks are promoted by criminal elements who happened to be South Africans. However, we cannot run away from the fact that we have African foreigners who are in this country to pursue their criminal activities of which we are aware as well as those who earn their livinig honestly. Therefore, the government must implement its policies of a living wage to all sectors so that when these criminal elements wish to pursue their agendas do not mix it with cheap labour that is experienced by these people as some are used out of desperation. Also government must show its presence to all criminals irrespective of their backgrounds.
Makhosini
Like apartheid, xenophobia is a crime against humanity. It does not have to be opportunistic, crime is crime, and in this case its a total onslaught on our innocent brothers and sisters. It does not matter whether the people are illegal immigrants or asylum seekers, the violence mooted on them is inhuman, barbaric and it boggles my mind how the oppressed has over night become the oppressor. This hatred of our brothers and sisters has absolutely nothing to do with service delivery and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms as it go against ubuntu and African renaissance. How I wish the perpetrators of this evil deed can liberate themselves from mental slavery as they are perpetuating stereotyping tendencies.in sport
lwanda
Opportunistic crimes: by driving them out of south africa they believe there will be lots of jobs available for them, and benefit from free groceries from their small shops.So these are not hatred crimes at all they have a lot to gain.
Luke
It's xenophobic. It's racist. it's opportunistic and it's stupid. When the SAfricans needed refuge in other African countries during Apartheid, we were welcomed. Now when it is our turn to help them out, we start murdering them.Hope it will stop...