K-words are still alive (anti-xenophobia posters found on Flickr)
“Our problem is political. We were told before Polokwane last year that the time has come for kwerekweres (foreigners) to go back home. Before that foreigners were killed during the security-industry strike two years ago. Somalis were attacked and killed."
MaKwerekwere is the derogatory onomatopoeic word black South Africans use for foreigners.
The biggest defense for the racism of South Africa's black people is the racism of South Africa's ANC government!
'The signs were there in 2004'
President Thabo Mbeki insisted that he had no prior warning of xenophobic violence, even though a group of refugees said they repeatedly wrote letters to Mbeki, the ANC and Cosatu alerting the government to the growing ill-treatment of foreigners in South Africa.
One of the letters, written by Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) citizen Deo Kabemba Ngulu to ANC secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe, reads, in part:
“We’re asking you to recognise that there is a crisis between us and the people electing the government ... The authorities must protect us because we are under threat.”
Below is an incredible three part documentary made two years ago by Channel 4 UK. Startling in fact. And in the context of what has happened recently - the xenophobic eruption - even more compelling viewing.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
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