Promoting Healthy Human Relationships with Sub-Saharan African Immigrants and South Africans

Abstract

When South Africa became a democratic country in 1994, and after it opened its borders to the rest of Africa and the world, the number of sub-Saharan immigrants also increased due to various reasons. Previously, in the colonial and apartheid eras, immigrants from other African countries were mainly miners and migrant labourers, who came to the country for short periods, with a few opting to remain in the country. With the increase in numbers of immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa, some locals have, in the last 26 years of freedom, found themselves at odds with these individuals. This discord has, at times, exploded into open conflict, especially xenophobic violent attacks, targeting sub-Saharan immigrants, leading to grievous bodily harm, destruction of property and death. It seems that such violent acts are becoming frequent and deadlier each year. This chapter casts light on the issue of healthy human relationships in South Africa and explores how they can be promoted between sub-Saharan immigrants and locals from a social work perspective. It proposes social work interventions that could help to foster healthier interactions between the former.