The Lack of Effective Communication Influences Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa
Bernard Naledzani Rasila
Institute for Rural Development, University of Venda, P.O.Box 2400, Polokwane, Limpopo Province, Republic of South Africa.
Elias Mavhungu Musitha *
Limpopo Tourism Agency, Polokwane, Limpopo Province, Republic of South Africa.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study has investigated the lack of effective communication, as the cause of Xenophobic attacks in South Africa. It is a descriptive and qualitative study, based on the literature and an empirical study.
South Africa experienced xenophobic attacks in 2008 and in 2015; and it may experience many more in the future; unless the government puts precautionary measures in place. This paper probes the impact of effective communication in reducing the incidence of xenophobic attacks across South Africa. The paper also probes how the lack of effective communication has contributed to the recent xenophobic attacks.
The results in this paper indicate that while there are a number of causes of xenophobia, including competition for limited resources; there has never been an effective communication deliberately focusing on the integration of foreign nationals and local community members. Local people need to understand the important roles played by the continent during the period of exile. The history of the country must be changed to one that would unite South Africa with other countries, in particular African ones. Also revealed, is that many years of colonialism; where citizens of Africa were divided along different borders and homelands, still linger in the minds of local citizens. The study also revealed that most citizens perceive foreigners as being only their fellow black men, with some coming from European countries. This paper proposes communication ways that would integrate South Africa with the rest of the continent.
Keywords: Xenophobia, effective communication, service delivery, socio-economic inequality.