Violence: We are warned

by Editor · June 30, 2010

Over the past few weeks, South Africa has generated a tremendous amount of good will and respect across the world by welcoming the globe�s population to a well-organised and most congenial World Cup. However, the country will relinquish much of that respect and affection if the threat of renewed xenophobic violence is realised, as experts in the field warn.

Indeed, attacks on nationals from other parts of Africa (and also from Asia) have not ceased, though they seem to take place randomly in isolated incidents, unlike the pogrom of May 2008, which to all appearances was at least partly orchestrated.

Should there be renewed outbreaks of systematic xenophobic violence, the government may not plead surprise as it so unconvincingly did two years ago. Throughout South Africa, refugees and migrants have been told to beware of attacks once the international spotlight turns from the country. People with evil intent are not so much lurking in the shadows as they are shouting it from the rooftops, apparently confident that they will be at liberty to act with impunity.

We must hope that the government has a plan in place to deal with orchestrated outbreaks of xenophobia, and to assist the victims of attacks in a more coherent and sympathetic way than it did in 2008.

It may be timely to forthrightly warn Catholics that participation in xenophobic attacks is gravely sinful. The words of Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg addressed to Catholics in Alexandria at the beginning of the 2008 pogrom must be revisited and amplified: �I forbid any Catholic in this archdiocese from assisting these unruly people or approving of their behaviour. I call on the Catholics and people of good will�to be the first to come to the aid of their neighbours who have been so ill treated� Everyone who takes a step in a march in a township to protest [against] �foreigners� is taking a step closer to hell.�

Indeed, Our Lord warned that those who do not welcome the stranger face �eternal punishment� (Matthew 25:31-46). Likewise, the Old Testament repeatedly and emphatically admonishes us to embrace refugees (especially Leviticus 19:34, 24:22, and Numbers 15:16).

Pope Benedict, who has a great concern for the welfare of expatriates, this month said: �Refugees desire to find welcome and to be recognised in their dignity and their fundamental rights. At the same time, they intend to offer their contribution to the society that welcomes them.� The pope might have thought mostly of the reception of African and Asian migrants in Europe, and Latin American migrants in the United States, but his words apply equally to South Africa.

The great majority of exiles aim to make an honest living. It is a scandalous indictment on South Africa that so many of them are being assaulted, displaced and even murdered for simply trying to stay alive.

As South Africans we endeavour to root out social sins of blind prejudice and selfish fervour. Our Constitution aims to defeat bigotry of every kind. Xenophobia runs counter to this spirit. It is a violation of God�s will and the Constitution alike.

We are being warned of a resurgence of attacks on extra-nationals. In the event that the threat of xenophobic violence is disregarded, the fingers will not point only to those who perpetrate evil acts, but also at those who knew what might happen, and did nothing.