Government is responsible for the xenophobia violence-and they can turn it around!

Not since the height of the dark days of the State of Emergency have we need the pervasive violence that we have had in the last two weeks. I never dreamt that we would revert back to those dark days. However, all this is completely understandable and logical thanks to the Zuma administration. The truth is that when other countries, such as Mozambique, Mauritius and Angola are showing good economic growth, South Africa continues on a downward trajectory. This is thanks to the Zuma government and its policies which ensures that corruption goes up whilst unemployment goes down. As in other countries quality education is delivered and emphasised, our education system continues to disadvantage our youth with bad quality education. So the ordinary unemployed South African “on the ground”, sees minimal opportunities and prospects for employment and becomes increasingly frustrated. At the same time, the ordinary South African citizen sees those in the ANC, and those connected to it, getting richer and richer through questionable means; Nkandla immediately comes to mind! Foreigners come into our country, and appear to thrive economically because of their knowledge, education and skills advantage. The poor unemployed South African sees this and, from his or her perspective, cannot understand how this is possible when he or she cannot develop in his or her own country. Add the violence encouraged and sponsored by the ANC government against Members of Parliament and unaccountable comments from royalty and members of the Zuma clan and we have the scene set for violence against innocent people. So over a week after this violence erupted government makes official public statements in this regard. The President used his answer to questions Parliamentary session as an opportunity to address this issue. In itself this was a good thing, however what came out of this emerged a lost opportunity for the President. His address on this issue came across as insincere and emotionless, President Zuma’s body language reflected this too. The President mentioned nothing about statements made by the King in Kwazulu-Natal and, even closer to home, Xenophobia comments made by Edward Zuma, son of the President. The root of this violence can be laid directly on the lap of government. The Zuma government is doing little to deal with our growing unemployment rate, at the same time our economy continues to spend more time in intensive care without immediate prospects of improving. Our suffocating labour laws contribute to the retardation of our economic growth, as Cosatu dictates government’s policy. Government needs to start dealing with this core issues, stop looking at introducing apparent “quick-fix” solutions which will have little impact. Before millions are allocated to “recruiting inspectors to detect companies and businesses employing undocumented migrants” malfunctioning systems in Home Affairs first need to be fixed! Government needs to prioritise the growth of our economy and job creation, actually do this and communicate this with South Africa. The reality is that South Africa can be a country of open opportunity for all where we can all enjoy the sunshine together, whether one is South African-born or not.