Gangs of South African hoodlums are currently on rampage across the townships, where they are profiling foreigners and subjecting them to extreme physical violence. Hundreds of foreigners and perceived foreigners have had their properties looted besides being beaten up or shot at by incensed crowds of scoundrels. Among the people being subjected to this extreme form of xenophobia are Kenyans, Ethiopians and Indians among other nationalities who have living peacefully in South Africa.
The xenophobia attacks were presaged by a series of violent robberies which targeted commercial entities owned by foreigners within South African townships. There were also instances of criminals profiling foreigners with the intent of killing them.
South Africa has a history of xenophobia especially after the apartheid regime handed over power to the Black leadership. Most native black South Africans accuse immigrants and expatriates of taking up their jobs as well as misusing services offered to them by the government. However, reality on the ground shows that some black South Africans are quite displeased by the fact that most of these immigrants have been able to better themselves economically.
To worsen matters, some rank and file members of the South African security forces do exhibit xenophobic tendencies – a fact which has left many foreigners vulnerable.
