Assignment 2 Victimology Pdf
VICTIMOLOGY – CMY3705
DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINOLOGY AND SECURITY SCIENCE
XENOPHOBIA AS A HATE CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA
Lecturer : Dr M Barkhuizen
Date : 04 April 2015
Name : Ms JP White
Student Number : 31532403
Unique Number : 598933
Table of Contents
Page
Introduction
2
Xenophobia as a hate crime
2
The impact of xenophobia on victims
3
Xenophobic attacks remembered
4
Conclusion
6
Bibliography
7
Introduction
South Africa has a long history of prejudice and discrimination. One of the major legacies of apartheid is that of intolerance towards ‘difference’ - be it in terms of race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation or other such factors.
Xenophobia is one of our major issues within our communities.
Most dictionaries describe “xenophobia” as “hatred or fear of foreigners”, combining the Greek words xenos (foreign) with phobos (fear). In South Africa, we’ve come to understand it as the often violent dislike of foreign nationals, known as the
“makwerekwere”.
Xenophobic attacks are not a new phenomenon in South Africa, these attacks started even before 2008 attacks that rocked the nation and the international community. Unfortunately, violence is not restricted to the so-called xenophobic hotspots where localised competition for political and economic power is a trigger for violence. It is not unique to townships such as Diepsloot and Sebokeng. In fact this form of violence had spread across all parts of South Africa killing over 60 people, leaving hundreds seriously injured and over a thousand displaced. As the world watched in shock and dismay, in Johannesburg the Central Methodist Church opened its doors to thousands of displaced foreigners and has been providing them with housing since the 2008 xenophobic attacks. There are many such stories of displaced and injured victims of xenophobia.
Xenophobia as a hate crime
In May 2008, thousands of migrants were displaced due to mass looting and destruction of foreign owned homes, and
DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINOLOGY AND SECURITY SCIENCE
XENOPHOBIA AS A HATE CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA
Lecturer : Dr M Barkhuizen
Date : 04 April 2015
Name : Ms JP White
Student Number : 31532403
Unique Number : 598933
Table of Contents
Page
Introduction
2
Xenophobia as a hate crime
2
The impact of xenophobia on victims
3
Xenophobic attacks remembered
4
Conclusion
6
Bibliography
7
Introduction
South Africa has a long history of prejudice and discrimination. One of the major legacies of apartheid is that of intolerance towards ‘difference’ - be it in terms of race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation or other such factors.
Xenophobia is one of our major issues within our communities.
Most dictionaries describe “xenophobia” as “hatred or fear of foreigners”, combining the Greek words xenos (foreign) with phobos (fear). In South Africa, we’ve come to understand it as the often violent dislike of foreign nationals, known as the
“makwerekwere”.
Xenophobic attacks are not a new phenomenon in South Africa, these attacks started even before 2008 attacks that rocked the nation and the international community. Unfortunately, violence is not restricted to the so-called xenophobic hotspots where localised competition for political and economic power is a trigger for violence. It is not unique to townships such as Diepsloot and Sebokeng. In fact this form of violence had spread across all parts of South Africa killing over 60 people, leaving hundreds seriously injured and over a thousand displaced. As the world watched in shock and dismay, in Johannesburg the Central Methodist Church opened its doors to thousands of displaced foreigners and has been providing them with housing since the 2008 xenophobic attacks. There are many such stories of displaced and injured victims of xenophobia.
Xenophobia as a hate crime
In May 2008, thousands of migrants were displaced due to mass looting and destruction of foreign owned homes, and
Bibliography: http://www.culanth.org/articles/728-xenophobia-in-south-africa-order-chaosand http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-05-28-analysis-the-ugly-truthbehind-sas-xenophobic-violence/ http://www.issafrica.org/uploads/Xenophobia-Presentation-Annah-Moyo.pdf leila.samodien@inl.co.za - Cape Times http://ewn.co.za/2014/12/24/Methodist-church-refugees-refuse-to-go-back-home http://cormsa.org.za