Self-hate extended to visitors
ALEXANDRA – Xeno to flare up again in absence of moral regeneration
The recent incidents of xenophobic attacks and looting in Gauteng were attributed to suppressed anger which flares up occasionally.
The incidents resulted in losses to mostly small businesses of both local and foreign nationals and 10 deaths of mostly citizens. Members of the NPO Family Federation for World Peace and Unification attributed the flare-ups to fissures in the national psyche, which they say continues to deepen, creating barriers that should be broken down between and among citizens and with foreign nationals. “We have lost morals and values which kept African cultures intact for centuries and the essence of family units which we rely on to promote neighbourliness,” federation executive member Thabo Leballo said.
The organisation will partly be resulting from the attacks, conduct a Peace Road initiative to fulfil its international obligation on peacebuilding and neighbourliness. Leballo said traditional African societies thrived through strong morals and values which cascaded from the family unit and home to the community and neighbouring clans.
“All that has been lost and the values of peaceful coexistence including through clan intermarriages have been lost resulting in endemic conflicts which won’t end without concrete measures that promote respect.”
He decried the failure of moral regeneration efforts for the increase in broken families. “Our children are now in disarray, many are fatherless and research indicates that 30 per cent of those from broken families get addicted to drugs and are involved in prostitution and crime which also contributed to the looting.”
He said this was compounded by the absence of self-respect among individuals spreading within the family, neighbours and also being emulated by visitors. “The absence of a dad and family stability in a child’s life leaves them vulnerable to all forms of negative influence and influence their reaction to others.”
Leballo referred to endemic violence in Alex as a sign of broken families and communities. “The children mimic the unrelenting crime they see daily and the sexual violence and rape that occur occasionally including in cemeteries.”
He said visitors who were least known within the community were likely to become easier victims of such crimes, especially, when they are perceived as a challenge to citizens’ means of livelihood. He also blamed law enforcement agencies saying they fail to make visitors feel welcome and to respect the country’s laws.
He urged the government to solve the challenge by creating sustainable jobs for citizens to reduce their anger and frustration, inculcate patriotism and encourages their dialogue with visitors.
The federation’s executive member Molefe Boshoma urged governments with most migrants in the country to improve conditions in their countries and the South African government to plug in its porous borders to restrict entry by undesirable elements. “Only law-abiding migrants who add value to the country should be welcome,” he said imploring the government to be wary of dubious charismatic churches.
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