The issue we are facing is not xenophobia as such, but xenocide. In 99% of xenophobic incidents anywhere on this planet in the last decade (however heinous), we do not find xenophobic dispositions turning into a mobilisation and a social movement that kills foreigners. Ours does. It is the habit of my profession to explain such phenomena and in most cases rationalise and naturalise them. There will be a time for all that — what is running out is moral time: unambiguous and decisive action before the last shards of humanism left on this tip of Africa go up in smoke as well.
Ari Sitas
Ari Sitas is a sociologist and writer, a senior professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (www.iols.ukzn.ac.za or www.global-studies.de)... More by Ari Sitas