West Cape News

A Somalian shopowner in Du Noon fearfully looks out from his locked shop entrance as threats of xenophobic violence circulated through Cape townships in the wake of the World Cup. Photo: Peter Luhanga/WCN

Extensive interviews with residents of Khayelitsha and Du Noon townships in Cape Town this week found no evidence of a co-ordinated plan to attack African foreign nationals, but did uncover attitudes to foreigners that were complex and varied.

Rather than a blanket hatred of foreign nationals, attitudes differed between the young and the elderly, and differed according to foreigners’ nationality.

Elderly people were more tolerant toward foreigners, possibly because their own employment or forms of income had been secured and did not see foreigners as competing for jobs, unlike younger people who were searching for employment and felt threatened.

Additionally, attitudes among local residents toward Somalis, who generally created their own businesses and sometimes even employed locals, were more relaxed, while Zimbabweans and Malawians were seen as competitors in the labour market and were more actively disliked.

The fact that Somalis locked up their township businesses this week in a pre-emptive move to try prevent looting attacks, left local residents facing long walks to chain stores such as Shoprite in order to get daily necessities such as sugar, milk and bread, contributed to a more lenient attitude, especially amongst women who were responsible for daily purchases.

In well-attended community meetings with residents, councillors, police and community policing forums in Khayelitsha, Philippi and Nyanga this week to address xenophobic attacks which occurred on Sunday and Monday, a cross section of residents urged police to arrest the perpetrators and condemned the attacks.

Residents complained that the closure of Somali-owned shops meant they had to walk long distances to chain stores or to the few locally-owned spaza shops to buy groceries.

However, some local residents expressed concern over immigration policies, saying foreign nationals should be housed in refugee centres and not simply be allowed to move into townships.

But the safety of existing Somali residents was assured.

Nyanga councillor Monwabisi Mbaliswano said attacks on Somali-owned shops were the work of “young people” and “criminals” who were opportunistic.

He urged local residents not to loot shops owned by foreign nationals.

“We have no problem here. We live peacefully and we have told the Somali community not to worry and feel safe because their safety is our priority,” said Mbaliswano.

Khayelitsha Sanco executive committee member Bafundi Mxolo said he would welcome foreign nationals back into the community but in future home affairs should set up receiving centres to house asylum seekers.

“There have to be procedures that will avoid chaotic processes. We need to know who is here in the country, why they are here and how long will they stay here,” said Mxolo.

Mxolo said “the reason for the attacks were not purely hatred for foreign nationals, but competition for resources.

“The country’s population does not have enough access to basic resources and the necessities to live comfortably and that is why the xenophobia outbreak keeps continuing.”

Nyanga resident Anele Mpukwana said: “In desperation for sufficient service delivery in their communities, the locals will turn on the softest and most vulnerable targets to fight for resources.” – Sandiso Phaliso, West Cape News