Housing Sparked Xenophobia in South Africa

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Houses sparked xenophobia

Housing policy was identified as an important trigger for the outbreak
of xenophobic attacks, according to a report by the Human Science
Research Council (HSRC) released on Wednesday.

The report, in response to the outbreak of violence in May which left
more than 60 dead and some 10 000 displaced, was based on a roundtable
discussion involving 50 representatives from government, civil society
and affected communities.

"The housing policy needs to be revisited urgently. Housing is a complex
issue and is one of the issues that sparked xenophobic violence in
various areas around country," said HSRC director Adrian Hadland at the
launch of the report in Alexandra.

He said those involved with housing needed to be more accountable and
open about the process of allocating RDP houses.

"People usually rent out their RDP houses and their neighbours would
then assume the foreign nationals renting those houses have jumped the
list. There is a need for transparency in housing."

Some of the recommendations made by the council to avoid these attacks
in future included convening a national indaba on xenophobia and
encouraging discussion among residents.

This could take place through establishing local community forums,
revising the migration policy and education.

The need for immigrants

"Immigrants... need to be introduced to customs, practice and
sensitivities of the country. The local councillors need to be educated
about migration and South Africa's role globally," said Hadland.

South Africa needed immigrants because of their skills.

British high commissioner Paul Boateng said xenophobia was a "weeping
wound in the body of society.

"The UK can learn a lot from South Africa's experience... the dual
purpose is for the issue to remain on the international agenda to ensure
that there is no repeat to what happened," he said.

Although reintegration was not dealt with in the report, the HSRC said
dialogue was essential in bringing this about.

"It is critical to ask local people what they think."

Some foreigners have returned to their communities in areas around
Gauteng and Pretoria. Others remained homeless after the dismantling of
camps set up to shelter them in the wake of the attacks.