The Role of Governments, International Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations on Xenophobia in South Africa
Impact of Xenophobia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12724/ajss/68.4Keywords:
Discrimination, foreign nationals, government collaboration, international organisations, NGOs, violence, xenophobiaAbstract
This literary study argues that South Africa’s three government tiers have failed the majority of the country’s citizens in their efforts to provide adequate security and combat xenophobia. The study upon which this article is based focused on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and some international organisations (IOs) collaborating with governments to address xenophobia, particularly in South Africa. The study aimed to critically analyse and discuss the government’s, IOs’ and NGOs’ role in combating xenophobia in South Africa. The study utilised a qualitative approach with a historical design. Data were collected from secondary sources, which included books, journals and the Internet and were discussed in themes after performing textual analysis. The available published, reviewed articles were utilised to debate, argue and discuss governments’, IOs’ and NGOs’ role in xenophobia in some African countries. The results revealed that governments, NGOs, IOs and other stakeholders have provided support to ensure economic and social stability, but xenophobia persists in South Africa and several other African countries. One of the government's roles in preventing xenophobia is the provision of adequate security where xenophobic violence occurs. The study explained governments’, IOs’ and NGOs’ role in addressing xenophobia in South Africa and other African countries with a focus on issues relevant to addressing xenophobia in South Africa. The study was anticipated to inform government programmes and IOs’ and NGOs’ efforts to alleviate poverty among local citizens in South Africa and prevent hostility towards foreign nationals.
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