ANALYSIS: "Responsibility rests heavily on the ANC government party"

I remember the fear in the eyes of the people of Zimbabwe, Malawi, Ethiopia and Nigeria. It was the last really big wave of violence against African immigrants in 2015. They had all come to South Africa in the hope of a better life. A chance for themselves and their families.

Then people were shot to death and business was looted and burned. And it wasn't the first time. In 2008, a wave of violence broke out with 62 dead as a result.

For the African countries that supported the ANC's struggle for freedom and democracy in South Africa, the violence against their countrymen stands out as extremely offensive.

“Is this the thanks for the support we gave you?” People from across the continent ask in social media posts. Then as now.

When I traveled around Africa myself, the xenophobic attacks in South Africa have been something that many have horribly taken up with me. It harms South Africa's reputation and reputation tremendously on the continent. By extension, it creates a fear of investment and inhibits international cooperation.

These are two things that South Africa is in deep need of.

The root cause of the violence is the abyss of deep social injustice and the poor economic development in South Africa.

The rights that the blacks in the country managed to fight for are perceived as threatened by immigrants who come and work for lower wages. In some cases without pay at all, as in many restaurants.

The ruling party ANC has been in power ever since democracy was introduced in 1994. Responsibility rests heavily on the party for these violent waves to arise. Whenever they happen, condemnations come, but in between it is silent.

Why can you ask?

Partly because it is the ANC's core voters who are behind the xenophobic currents. At a time when the opposition party, the radical EFF, is increasingly taking on ANC voters in the big cities, one dares not clash with their voters.

It is all too obvious to millions of people that the ANC has failed to create the future that was dreamed of when Nelson Mandela became president in 1994.

It is the disappointment that is now burning in the poor parts of the South African cities. And in the richer parts, higher walls are being built.