An Analysis of Violent Attacks in Gauteng, South Africa, in 2019: Xenophobic or Not? – That is the Question

Abstract

Despite the democratic dispensation, crime levels, especially violent attacks, are high in South Africa. Violent attacks were widespread during the apartheid era. Unfortunately, violence continues to be a means people use to protest or register their discontent. Currently, the critical issues that ignite protests are scarce resources and poor service delivery by the local government. In addition, there are territorial conflicts within South Africa, in which South Africans who reside in parts of the country that are not their birthplaces find it difficult to work in these areas because the local people accuse them of stealing their jobs. Vigilantes give this excuse for unleashing attacks on fellow South Africans. Recently, this hostility has extended to foreign nationals living in South Africa. This paper investigates whether the violent attacks that took place in Gauteng, South Africa, in 2019 were xenophobic. A qualitative research method was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six participants. The findings indicated that the violent incidents that occurred in 2019 were associated with criminal elements and were not xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals. In addition, the study found that the media played a crucial role in misreporting the incidents.