The South African Xenophobic Question : A Reflection on the Complicity of State Actors

In the absence of political, legal, and socio-economic mechanisms to ensure mutual respect and mediate relations between divergent groups, xenophobia becomes manifest. Although South Africa lays claim to a liberal constitution, recurrent violent attacks on non-nationals have dented the country's international status. Studies have identified three major theoretical understandings of the factors responsible for anti-immigration feelings: isolation, frustration-aggression and scapegoating. This paper engages with this theoretical discourse, exposes their shortcomings and locates xenophobia in the 'fear of the known hypothesis'. It also assesses the manifestations of anti-immigration violence in South Africa and explores the role of political actors and traditional authorities in the xenophobia debacle. It rejects the claim that unemployment, poor service delivery and the criminalization of immigrants are the decisive motivations for xenophobia. It argues that South African state actors are the major drivers of xenophobic attacks. The article concludes that violent attacks on civilians cannot be justified; thus the state should be alive to its responsibility of effective governance and protecting the lives and property within its domain.