Xenophobic Attacks And Other Violence In South Africa: A Challenge To World Peace

Abstract

Escalation of xenophobic attacks and other violence and its impact on world peace is a relevant and contemporary issue in South Africa's democratic history. Safeguarding world peace and promoting the common development of mankind constitute the two cardinal tasks endowed by the United Nations' “Charter. Basically, Article one (1) of
the human rights laws state that ‘all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood” (Banning, Sepúlveda, Gudmundsdottir & Chamoun, 2004). Hence, the need to search for stable peace and development in the world. Stable peace is the type of peace that brings development, security and happiness to the citizens of the world. However, this is being threatened globally due to various forms of conflict and violence
such as the xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The search for stable global peace in this millennium implies serious attempt to eliminate the grinding poverty and ignorance among others. Stable peace and security can only be achieved by people and groups if they do not
deprive others of it; this can be achieved if security is conceived as a process of emancipation (Wheeler and Booth in Baylis, 2001, p 300,). This is also noted in Article three (3) of the Human Rights Laws: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.” This paper is interested therefore in showing xenophobic attacks and
other violence in South Africa as barriers or obstacles to achieving peace in the world. It recommended religious preaching and psychotherapy amongst other things for stemming the sadistic tide that is spreading across South Africa against migrant workers from
neighbouring African countries and the rest of the world.

IFE Psychologia – Special Issue: Xenophobia Vol. 16 (2) 2008: pp. 274-295