Violent xenophobic episodes in South Africa, 2008 and 2015

Abstract

A comparison between the 2015 and 2008 violent xenophobic episodes in South Africa is made, identifying both similarities and differences. Since government and other commentators, in both 2015 and 2008, differ considerably in deciding whether these episodes ought to be considered as essentially xenophobic in character, a number of prominent interpretations employed by these commentators will be identified and discussed. The perpetrators mobilised during these events are drawn from the same pool as the protesters mobilised during current country-wide violent service delivery protests. Accordingly, this article concludes by suggesting that an insightful interpretation covering both categories of actors belonging to South Africa’s urban working and under-class may be made. The violent collective behaviour that is becoming widespread country-wide stems, to a significant extent, not from their deep-seated xenophobic attitudes, but rather from the unfulfilled expectations of what they believe should be their just entitlements.