![]() South Africa occupies the same place in the hearts of Africans that the United States does to the people of North and South America - and indeed much of the rest of the world. Most are considering Europe and America, and on the continent, South Africa is the top destination, despite the unacceptable levels of xenophobia.īut that is not to say that there aren’t real problems in South Africa - systemic, institutional ones. South Africa is fortunate in many ways, and it makes sense we are the most attractive destination on the continent for migrants.Īccording to the African Youth Survey, more than 50 percent of Africa’s youths indicated that they want to emigrate in the next three years. The vast majority of these come from other African nations. With more than 2.9 million immigrants, South Africa hosts more migrants than any other African country. When he spoke then, it was personal knowledge of the fact that many of the brave opponents of the apartheid regime were themselves made refugees by its injustice. “We must work for the day when we, as South Africans, see one another and interact with one another as equal human beings and as part of one nation united, rather than torn asunder, by its diversity,” he told the United Nations in 1990. As we prepare for the international day of celebration in the name of modern South Africa’s founding father, we must ask ourselves how Mandela would view such developments. In recent local elections, new political parties have even run on anti-immigrant platforms and found support among some voters for their divisive rhetoric. More than 4 in 10 South African youths are strongly against helping refugees from other countries. However, the data for South Africa offers much less to celebrate, as its youths reveal disappointing levels of intolerance towards refugees and immigrants. Overwhelming majorities also agreed that the rights of women, immigrants and minority groups need more protection. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (64 percent) said their country has a moral obligation to help refugees. But how can an African be a foreigner in Africa? How can an immigrant be discriminated against in a country that was founded by and developed through the efforts of continuing waves of immigrants from around the world, including Europe, India and the vast hinterland of Africa itself?Ī recent survey of African youths in 15 nations by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, which I chair, found that many are overwhelmingly tolerant - something we can and should celebrate on Mandela Day. Instead, the euphemism is “xenophobia,” the fear of foreigners. It is the saddest, most bitter irony: A country that was the polecat of the world for its insistence on stratifying its society according to how people looked is showing signs of moving towards the same once more.īut no one uses the “R word” - racism. Our new challenge is to eradicate a cancer that has metastasized into a country harboring hatred against the same countries that once supported South Africa’s liberation struggle. Now, the brave new world bequeathed to us by Mandela is reaping the toxic harvest of a new nationalism, defined by those who are or aren’t deemed to be South African.ĭiscrimination today is directed not by those with white skin against those with Black skin, but all too often by South African citizens against immigrants. The seeds sown by colonial rule were cultivated by decades of legislated segregation under the Afrikaner Nationalist regime. The “Rainbow Nation” has a problem with intolerance. ![]() Our report card regarding tolerance today is mixed. ![]() ![]() So how do we measure up today to Mandela’s expectations? Universally associated with tolerance, Mandela tested himself and our nation before becoming the transformational figure we know him to be today. On Monday, July 18, we will pause to remember the birthday of Nelson Mandela, a fitting moment to take stock of how far South Africa has come - and how much work there remains to do - in securing the true legacy of our first, post-apartheid president.
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