Why Are South Africans Becoming Increasingly Xenophobic

 According to the latest news reports, the orgy of xenophobic violence is spreading in South Africa and has spread to nine provinces with its epicenter at the southern parts of Durban city, Alexandra and Cape Town among others. Some South Africans and foreign nationals had been killed while several shops were looted.
Though, the government of Jacob Zuma is doing her best to ensure security of lives and property for the foreigners in the Southern African state.

Though, this uprising has been largely attributed to high rate of youth unemployment, idleness, hard drugs usage, vicious poverty cycle as well as deep-rooted racial discrimination that had been sowed and fueled by long years of white rule and domination of the apartheid rule.

The critical as well worrisome dimension of this horrible event is the targeting of other hapless and struggling black African populations who as disadvantaged as they are and are also battling vicious cycle of poverty in their lives. 

As at when writing this piece, many concerned South Africans have started protests and demonstrations in

support of other African brothers and sisters. Equally, sheltering centres have been provided for the fleeing and displaced immigrants around South African's informal settlements to provide essential needs and services to victims and displaced person.

To arrest this situation, the government of Jacob Zuma  must as a matter of urgency provide the needed policy framework that will protect foreigners living in that country. The government must put in place grassroots awareness on the need for South Africans to accommodate other Africans of whatever colouration, cultural backgrounds and languages. 

The government should also look deeply into the issue of youth unemployment and idleness to forestall recurrence of this bout of xenophobic  rampage and senseless killing urge.This seemingly  uphill task can be speedily addressed by putting structures to empower the youths on self-management, entrepreneurial skills and leadership literacy as well as legal  education.

Also, other African States too should be proactive in the area of youth employment provision and generation to stem the trend of immigration. Doing this will discourage any would migrants from venturing into unsafe areas of the world.