View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Stellenbosch University SUNScholar Repository XENOPHOBIA CONFLICT IN DE DOORNS; A DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION CHALLENGE FOR DEVELOPMENTAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOHANNES RUDOLF BOTHA Mini research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy (Journalism). at the University of Stellenbosch Supervisor: Mr J Ogada Department of Journalism Degree of confidentiality: A March 2012 Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za ii Declaration By submitting this research report electronically, I, Johannes Rudolf Botha, declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the owner of the copyright thereof (unless to the extent explicitly otherwise stated) and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. JR Botha February 2012 Copyright © 2012 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za iii Acknowledgements Thank you very much: • My supervisor, Mr Josh Ogada for his invaluable guidance and patience. • My wife Greetje and sons Rudolf, Bernard and Roald for their motivation, patience and support • De Doorns Reintegration Task Team • Breede Valley Municipality Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za iv Come senators, Congressmen Please heed the call Don’t block at the doorway Don’t block up the hall For he that gets hurt Will be he that has stalled There’s a battle outside And it’s ragin' It’ll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls For the times they are a – changing Bob Dylan – from his song, “The times they are a – changing” Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za v Abstract Xenophobic hostility is not an unfamiliar concept – it is practiced all over the world, also in South Africa. Defined by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) as a deep dislike of non-nationals by nationals of a recipient state, it constitutes a violation of the human rights of a targeted group, threatening the very principals upon which the young democracy is modelled on. What distinguishes xenophobia in South Africa from the rest of the world is its violent manifestation. In this country xenophobia is more than just an attitude, it is a violent practise, fuelled by racism, intolerance, ignorance and incapacity to deliver on developmental expectations. The 2008 xenophobic attacks in major centres in South Africa stunned the local and international communities, causing researchers to rush in search of answers. Just as the furore turned into complacency, on 17 November 2009, 3000 Zimbabwean citizens living in the rural community of De Doorns in the Western Cape were displaced as a result of xenophobic violence. Reasons for the attacks vary, with some blaming the contestation for scarce resources, others attribute it to the country’s violent past, inadequate service delivery and the influence of micro politics in townships. In assessing the reasons for the attacks the study claims that the third tier of government in terms of its Constitutional developmental mandate fails to properly engage with communities on their basic needs; that its inability to live up to post-apartheid expectations triggers frustration into violent xenophobic action. The De Doorns case offers valuable insight into the nature and scope of the phenomenon in rural areas, highlighting local government’s community participation efforts in exercising its developmental responsibility and dealing with the issue of xenophobia. Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za vi Opsomming Xenofobie is nie ’n onbekende verskynsel nie, dit kom reg oor die wêreld, ook in Suid- Afrika voor. Gedefinieer deur die Suid Afrikaanse Menseregte Kommissie as ’n diep gesetelde afkeur aan vreemdelinge deur die inwoners van ’n gasheer land, verteenwoordig dit ’n skending van menseregte en hou dit ’n bedreiging vir die jong demokrasie in. Xenofobie in Suid-Afrika word gekenmerk deur die geweldadige aard daarvan. Hier verteenwoordig dit meer as ’n ingesteltheid, dit is ’n geweldadige uiting van gevoelens, aangespoor deur, rassisme, onverdraagsaamheid, onverskilligheid en die onvermoë om aan ontwikkelings-verwagtinge te voldoen. Die 2008 xenofobiese aanvalle in die stedelike gebiede van Suid-Afrika het die land en die wêreld diep geraak en ’n soeke na oplossings ontketen. Op 14 November 2009 word die gerustheid na die 2008 woede erg versteur toe 3 000 Zimbabwiërs in De Doorns in die Wes-Kaap deur xenofobiese geweld ontheem is. Redes wat aangevoer word wissel vanaf mededinging vir werksgeleenthede tot die land se geweldadige verlede, onvoldoende dienslewering en die invloed van mikro politiek in woonbuurte. Met die oorweging van redes vir die aanvalle maak die studie daarop aanspraak dat die derde vlak van regering in terme van sy Konstitusionele ontwikkelings-mandaad gefaal het om na behore met die gemeenskappe rondom hul behoeftes te skakel, dat die regering se onvermoë om aan die post-apartheid verwagtinge te voldoen frustrasie in xenofobiese geweld laat oorgaan het. Die De Doorns geval bied waardevolle insig in die aard en omvang van xenofobiese geweld in landelike gebiede en lê klem die plaaslike regering se hantering van openbare deelname in terme van sy ontwikkelings verpligtinge. Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za vii Table of contents Declaration ii Acknowledgements iii Abstract v Opsomming vi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.2 RATIONALE 3 1.3 RESEARCH PROBLEM 3 1.4 THEORETICAL APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION 5 1.5 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 8 1.6 THESIS OUTLINE 9 1.7 CONCLUSION 9 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 11 2.1 INTRODUCTION 11 2.2 DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION – A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE 11 2.2.1 Introduction 11 2.2.2 Key terminology 11 2.2.3 Development communication – a historical perspective 13 2.2.4 Theoretical underpinnings of development communication 15 2.2.5 Media 18 2.2.6 Methodological framework for development communication programmes 18 2.2.7 Conclusion 18 2.2 KEY CONCEPTS 19 2.3 XENOPHOBIA 19 2.3.1 Introduction 19 2.3.2 Definition 20 2.3.3 Theories of prejudice 21 2.3.4 Xenophobia in the South African context 24 2.3.5 Conclusion 29 2.4 DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION 29 2.4.1 Development 29 2.4.2 Community participation – a South African perspective 31 2.4.3 Conclusion 33 CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY 35 3.1 INTRODUCTION 35 3.2 METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH 36 3.2.1 Documents 37 Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za viii 3.2.2 Field research 38 3.2.3 Key research participants 39 3.3 CONCLUSION 40 CHAPTER 4 DE DOORNS CASE STUDY 41 4.1 BACKGROUND 41 4.2 THE VIOLENCE - FIELD OF NIGHTMARES 43 4.3 EARLY WARNING SIGNS 44 4.4 THE CRIME SCENE: THE NATURE AND PERPETRATORS OF VIOLENCE 46 4.5 CAUSES FOR THE OUTBREAK OF XENOPHOBIA IN DE DOORNS 48 4.5.1 Competition for limited resources 49 4.5.2 Employment and labour practices. 53 4.5.3 Farm labour – then and now 54 4.5.4 Contractors 55 4.6 HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE 61 4.6.1 Initial phase – emergency assistance 61 4.6.2 Core phase – providing shelter and welfare assistance 64 4.6.3 Final phase – closing-down and reintegration 65 4.7 REINTEGRATION PRESSURES 71 4.8 CONCLUSION 74 CHAPTER 5 MAIN FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 76 5.1 MAIN FINDINGS 76 5.1.1 XENOPHOBIA 76 5.1.2 PREJUDICE 76 5.1.3 LABOUR AND SERVICE DELIVERY ISSUES 77 5.1.4 HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE 78 5.1.5 COMMUNICATION 78 5.1.6 EVALUATION OF COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES 79 5.2 RECOMMENDATIONS 82 CHAPTER 6 CONCLUSION 86 6.1 CONCLUSION 86 REFERENCES 88 APPENDIX A 98 APPENDIX B 102 APPENDIX C 107 APPENDIX D 110 Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za 1 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 INTRODUCTION The outbreak of xenophobic violence in South Africa in May 2008, leaving 60 people dead and thousands displaced in its wake, sent shock waves through the country, Africa and across the globe. For almost 15 years, since the birth of democracy, South Africa was hailed as an example of racial reconciliation – a beacon of hope for many of its own as well as those who supported the country through its struggle for freedom. Fellow Africans were stunned - how was it possible that the very people who accommodated and cared for South Africans during the dark years of apartheid could all of a sudden become the enemy? South Africa is not new to xenophobia. It is a characteristic of global society where people migrate all over the world to flee from persecution or in search for a better life. While outbreaks of xenophobic violence on foreigners occurred repeatedly since the early 1990s, the May 2008 attacks were especially alarming, not only for their intensity and spread over the country but also for the attention the attacks attracted. Just as normality returned to the townships, on 14 November 2009 disaster struck, leaving 3000 Zimbabwean migrants living in the rural community of De Doorns in the Western Cape Province of South Africa displaced and forlorn. Hope has turned into despair for thousands of Africans who came to South Africa in search of a better life. It seems that “Ubuntu” (togetherness), one of the county’s main branding initiatives, projecting South Africans as a caring, peace-loving nation is nothing more than a public relations ploy to boost the “Rainbow Nation” concept. Reactions were strong with newspaper headlines evoking sympathy, disappointment and disgust. The Argus “Hate rocks Cape dorp” (2009: 1), Cape Times “My heart is bleeding” (2009: 1), Die Burger “Xenophobie-sweer bars” (2009: 1) painted a grim picture of prejudice, intolerance and ignorance.