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Violence Can Become a Culture in South Africa

Written by Botswana Gazette online

Tuesday, 27 May 2008 19:00

The events in South Africa where locals have been attacking foreign immigrants, bode ill for the development of the Southern African Development Community, one of whose objectives is to promote the integration of its peoples.   All institutions in the SADC member countries must condemn these attacks and call on the South African to  protect innocent lives and immigrants’ property. South Africa, like all countries, has immigration laws that deal with illegal immigration; it must use these laws to ensure the rule of law in the country. Mob rule and violence will not solve the immigration problem;  this  kind of behaviour could easily escalate to engulf the whole country, to victimize anyone  who is different in any way, ethnically, racially, politically, religiously, and otherwise. We just have to look at what is happening in such countries as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Sudan to realize that this is not farfetched. South Africa is soon to host the 2010 World Cup;  if any behaviour is calculated to undermine foreign confidence in the country’s ability to maintain order during such an important event, it is this kind of violent behaviour.     The attacks appear to be too organised to be random; otherwise how could the conflagration have spread so rapidly and so systematically from one city to the next? President Thabo Mbeki has promised to investigate; he must, to restore that country’s credibility as a peaceful and lawful state. It appears that Batswana students too were threatened; Batswana  travel in droves to South Africa  on a daily basis – to shop, on holiday and on business, and to seek medical aid. The South African Tourist Board appreciates that we bring a lot of business to that country. South Africans would certainly also be the losers if Batswana curtailed their travel to that country and if Botswana withdrew the thousands of our students that are studying there. The attacks should be a lesson to the people in Botswana too, that any violent attack on foreigners - or any other group for that matter - undermines our own security and stability. Violence is rarely selective; you never know who will get hurt or be killed. And while conflict is easy to foment, it is difficult to eradicate; it can easily become a culture.. Help Asian Disaster Victims We commiserate with the victims of the violent storms in Myanmar and the quakes in China.  We are all part of one humanity; what befell the people in these countries is painful to the people in Botswana too.  We laud those in Botswana who have already begun collecting relief for the quake and tsunami victims and urge the rest of the people in Botswana to respond to the urgent appeals to give assistance. < Prev   Next >

Last Updated on Wednesday, 04 June 2008 11:43