UNISA: Diploma in Economics

Macroeconomics 201 Assignment

Assignment Title: Discuss the relationship between xenophobic

attacks and social challenges in South African urban centres.

Submitted by: Mthabisi Hlabangana

Student Number: 56219

 Table of Contents
1. Introduction........................................................................................................................................1
2. Definition of terms.............................................................................................................................1
3. Relationship between xenophobia and social challenges...........................................................1
4. Conclusion.........................................................................................................................................3
References................................................................................................................................................4
1. Introduction

Human beings are forced from time to time to co-exist with each other, due to mainly
political and economic challenges which they might be facing. The migration of other
foreign nationals to escape challenges or in search of better opportunities might result
within a country such as South Africa friction from social issues to economic issues This
often leads to the existence of xenophobia within the society which might have been
compelled to accept these groups of people at the beginning due to the challenges
being faced in their parent societies.

2. Definition of terms

According to Hervic (2015 p. 769), xenophobia refers to fear of strangers and is

associated with sentiments of anti-immigration. “Xenophobia describes attitudes,
prejudices and behavior that reject, exclude and often vilify persons based on the
perception that they are outsiders or foreigners to the community, society or national
identity” (Laura p.5)

World Refugee Council Research paper explains the cause of xenophobia as a

superiority complex where one group, especially the nationals see themselves as being
in a greater or better than the other group. He further explained that it is usually ignited
or is often associated with periods of political and/or economic instabilities

3. Relationship between xenophobia and social challenges

Xenophobia poses a lot of social challenges in South African urban centres and among
these is the rise in unemployment rate such as Johannesburg. This is due to the fact
that a lot of factories and firms are in the city. Therefore, a lot of South Africans migrate
to Johannesburg in search of work. They have to compete with foreign nationals for job
opportunities which leaves a group of the locals bitter and angry. According to Solomon
and Kosaka (2015, p.13), foreign nationals are known to be exploited for their services,
that is, Zimbabweans and Congolese being associated with cheap labour, especially in
farms or factories.
Xenophobia is also associated with high crime rates. Most foreign nationals come into
South Africa any or proper documentation, therefore it becomes easier for these people
to commit crimes such as burglary, theft and fraud (Solomon & Kosaka, 2015, p.12).
This is because these people are not on record or the country’s system, therefore it
becomes difficult to track any illegal activities which might be caused by this group of
people. Jobs may not be available for everyone; this therefore leads to the foreign
nationals resorting to selling drugs in order to survive. These drugs are used and
consumed by the locals, especially the younger generation. This social upset has an
adverse impact on the economy as the future of the young generation become bleaker
by the passing of each day.

There is also a fear of contagious diseases which is associated with xenophobia. The
spread of a virus such as covid-19 can be identified by the locals as a social turmoil
which would have been managed well without the flocking in of many foreigners. Other
infectious viruses like HIV may be thrown into the argument to make a strong case for a
commotion that xenophobia brings about as well.

According to Solomon and Kosaka (2015, p.8), South Africans believe that other SADC
citizens use the country’s welfare services. Therefore, there is a belief that there are
free riders of services in the country. These may be referred to as free riders as those
foreign nationals without proper documentation benefit from services provided without
having to pay tax. This leads to a belief that the locals are competing for resources with
the foreigners and that less is available for them than is necessary thereby leading to a
reduced standard of living. Grants and other welfare benefits may be cut to sustain
expenditure of the country. Also suggest that the provision of water and sanitation is
not differentiated from the locals, meaning that these services are provided in the same
proportion for both locals and foreign nationals. This further explains why it is believed
that resources are being competed for, which might result in rising social challenges.

According to Vromans, Kagee, Schweitzer and Knoetze (2011, p.96), xenophobic

attacks may result from apparent threats to from the foreign nationals on forming
relationships with local women. The local people may not like competing for their
women with foreign nationals which might bring about cultural diversity which a lot of
African countries try to refrain from. It is with good reasons that they refrain from it as it
brings with it many challenges which might be difficult to deal with for these countries
(Vromans, et al., 2011, p. 98).

Prostitution is also another factor which is related to xenophobia, this is so because

among the number of women immigrants may not be able to find work and fend for their
families. This often leads to these women resorting to prostitution to survive. Landau,
Ramjathan-Keogh and Singh (2005, p.31) indicated that prostitution and bribery are
some of the social challenges which are closely tied to xenophobia.

A dilution of the cultural practices may result due to xenophobia. Different groups of
foreign nationals come in with their traditions and culture which might cause a
diminishing culture of the locals. This causes a loss of heritage and roots for the locals
as it is being easily diluted with the diversity of cultures. Landau, et al.(2005, p.98)
argued that foreign nationals might be blamed for every social challenge that the
country faces when in fact, they are possibly making contributions, and that foreign
nationals are more of victims rather than offenders of the crimes which they are blamed
for.

4. Conclusion

In conclusion, there is a solid correlation between xenophobia and social challenges in

South African urban and discussed above is how some of these challenges is affected
by xenophobia. Some of the issues affected by xenophobia as discussed above include
the crime rates and unemployment rates. Too short

In the beginning of the document I set out to discover the relationship between
xenophobia and social challenges in South African urban areas.

References
Landau, L. B., Ramjathan-Keogh, K. & Singh, G., 2005. Xenophobia in South Africa and
Problems Related to it, Johannesburg: University Witswatersrand.
Solomon, H. & Kosaka, H., 2015. Xenophobia in South Africa: Reflections, Narratives
and Recommendations. Sourthen African Peace and Security studies, 2(2), pp. 5-30.
Vromans, L., Kagee, A., Schweitzer, R. D. & Knoetze, K., 2011. The experience of
xenophobia in South Africa. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 81(1), pp. 90-93.