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Against the Background of Xenophobia, South Africa celebrates 21 years of Democracy

South Africa celebrates 21 years of democracy against an atmosphere of anti-immigrant violence and xenophobia. While South Africa celebrates 21 years of its democracy, its youth continue to cry rage. South Africa has frequently been reported one of the most unequal countries in the world, riddled with poverty and joblessness At the celebrations in Pretoria Jacob Zuma spent much of his speech denouncing the recent xenophobic violence that left seven people dead and hundreds of foreign nationals displaced but he also hit back at African countries that have criticized South Africa for the attacks.  Zuma said as the country prepares to celebrate Africa month in May, African unity and multiple cultures need to be promoted. “We need to address the underlying causes of the violence and tension.”  Zuma said South Africa didn’t address the culture of violence after 1994. “Apartheid was a violent system and therefore produced a violent counter to it.” The president said while the country has made many improvements in the past 21 years, there are underlying issued in society that need to be dealt with. Zuma also said South Africans must acknowledge that they're full of anger following the recent spate of xenophobic attacks in the country. Since apartheid’s end – also in 1994 – politicians and officials in South Africa have consistently demonized foreigners, crediting them with sky-high crime rates, spreading debilitating disease, and sapping services and jobs. These accusations  resonate with portions of the population who are poorer than ever and remember an apartheid-era migrant labor regime that was explicitly designed to disempower Black South Africans.

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