The sad definition of hypocrisy

The photo on the left, when I saw it I felt ice fill my veins, it is a photo I have seen before, one I had hoped I would not see again.

It was taken just the other day in the town of Alexandria, north South Africa.

I do not want to nor will I ever be political, it is not in my make up, but what does get to me is hypocrisy - perhaps they are one of the same. Our country fought so hard to end Apartheid and now it seems the very people that fought so hard are now turning into the oppressor.

The definition of xenophobia is that of an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange, Apartheid was based on it.

Now it is rearing its ugly head again except this time it is the once oppressed that are the oppressors. For the last week there has been violence and unrest in Alexandria, a small town up north, burning peoples homes and going on killing rampages… ostracized

The locals are attacking the people that gave dissidents of the old regime sanctuary in their countries, the refugees from neighbouring countries. Why? Because apparently they are taking the better jobs, they are working and they are trying to support themselves. Why is this seen as a bad thing? I personally feel it is jealousy, these people have studied, they have fought there way through wars and situations that are unimaginable, they want to support their families while the ones that are attacking are happy getting government hand outs - it is their right (I have heard this from the mouth many many times in my field of recruitment, I never hired them no matter who they are). These foreigners as we call them, have the right skills that are desperately needed and will work for anything as long as they have a job, sad but true.

The hypocrisy?

They themselves were treated like they are treating these so called foreigners, they were beaten till death, they were murdered, their houses were set fire to, they were treated like dirt.

They were the sub-race, they were the aliens not allowed to work in certain jobs, live in certain areas, could not travel on planes or on certain sections on trains - they were ostracised because they were seen as ungodly and bad. - now they are saying that the foreigners/refugees are the sub-race they are taking jobs away from those who deserve them, they are selling drugs and doing all the crime.

The murder, rapist, thief, terrorist label was put on their head because of the colour of their skin - now they do it to the people that helped them end apartheid, they put those labels on the foreigners/refugees.

It seems to me that xenophobia in this country is just pure hypocrisy, what is good for one is not good for the other, being a human is not enough.

To quote Letlapa Mphahlele “I spent more than a third of my life in exile. I do not remember a single South African being killed,” he said. “I think the South African nation should lower its head in shame.”

I am shamed