Xenophobia In Post Apartheid South Africa:Causes,Effects And Solutions

South Africa affectionately known as a "Rainbow nation" gained its independence in 1994 from the authoritative apartheid regime. After years of oppression, segregation, racial exclusion and inequality the rainbow nation was born giving hope to many who finally were ready for equality, freedom and racial inclusion. The country also rose from sanctions and exclusion from the international community to becoming one of the Africa’s economically and industrialized able state. With this, South Africa was placed in the global arena, and in a context which enabled its greater engagement with the rest of the world and Africa, born from racism the new South Africa placed emphasis on nation-building, ubuntu (oneness) and emerging nationalism. The new South Africa however gave birth to discrimination and exclusion (new racism).On April 2015, violence broke out in Durban directed towards migrants especially the ones of African origin, resulting in brutal killings of six people, looting in foreign owned shops as well as misplacements of thousands of foreigners who sought solace in police stations, churches, mosques and refugee camps. This was not the first time these attacks happened, their history can be traced to as early as 1994, since then xenophobic violence directed towards African immigrants has escalated regardless of the influx of migrants coming into South Africa. This has caused tremendous concern and frustrations in and outside South Africa. In the contemporary South Africa, politics of exclusion and inclusion have taken a different and new form, where migrants from Africa are excluded and targeted while white migrants from Europe and other countries are embraced and glorified.The concept of xenophobia is explained as fear of something strange and foreign, however, in South Africa this is directed only towards African foreigners. Xenophobia is a complex phenomenon which involves scapegoating of foreigners as well as politics of access. This thesis argues that the xenophobic sentiments and violence are as a result of socio-economic deprivation as well as striving for political access and entitlement.