Afrophobia, moral and political disguises: Sepa leholo ke la moeti
Abstract
Violent or other attacks on nationals from other African states are a reality we have come
to expect time-after-time in post-apartheid South Africa. We are once confronted with
the ugly reality of barbaric and cruel acts of attacks on foreign internationals from other
African states, which some have labelled “xenophobia” or “xenophobic attacks” while
others term this “Afrophobia” (Black-on-Black conflict and violence directed at other
Africans). We argue that this unsolicited characteristic of being African (indigenous) will
never disappear unless the moral and political disguises thereof are dealt with radically
and proactively. Generally, the subject of xenophobia is one which almost everyone has
an opinion on – therefore this must be a subject close to every person’s heart, be this
controversial or not.