South Africa’s xenophobic agenda is impeding its coronavirus response
COVID-19 doesn’t discriminate based on citizenship. That the government continues to is even more reckless than usual.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressing the South African National Defence Force ahead of the lockdown in response to the coronavirus in South Africa. Credit: GCIS.
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Across the world, countries are learning that the coronavirus doesn’t discriminate. To contain the spread of the disease, everyone in the country must be able to self-isolate and have access to health care – regardless of their citizenship or passport.
A few countries such as Portugal have recognised this fact and granted temporary citizenship rights to all migrants. Some have not.
South Africa declared a state of disaster in mid-March and became the first African country to impose a lockdown a week later. Ordinary life has been upturned – except that when it comes to the government’s treatment of migrants and asylum seekers, it is mostly business as usual. This is damaging not just for the wellbeing of migrants but for the public health of the whole nation.
Misdirected and counterproductive
The government’s anti-migrant approach has undermined its response to the COVID-19 pandemic in a variety of ways.
One of the first measures it announced to deal with the spread of the disease was to build a 40km fence on the border with Zimbabwe. At the time of writing, the Coronavirus in Africa tracker shows that South Africa has 1,845 confirmed cases of coronavirus compared to Zimbabwe’s 11. Moreover, the virus has mostly been spread by people travelling from Europe by plane. Yet Public Works Minister Patricia de Lille insisted the fence with Zimbabwe was necessary to “ensure that no undocumented or infected persons cross into the country”.
When South Africa could have been focusing on essential aspects of it COVID-19 response, it was instead diverting critical resources to building a border wall, a notorious costly and often ineffective measure in the first place. Flexing its emergency powers, it used the pretext of the pandemic to justify its increasingly repressive and militarised approach to dealing with migrants.
Politically motivated and unclear communication have also undermined the government’s lockdown policy. For example, the government initially announced that small shops known as spaza could remain open, but only if they were South African-owned. On the first day of the lockdown, immigrant-owned shops were already being shut down by police. “We want to make sure that the quality of food and surety of the quality of products is there,” said the minister for small business development Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
This approach was in keeping with South African politicians’ use of xenophobic rhetoric to gain populist points. This has contributed to several waves of mob violence against migrants, most notably in 2008 and 2019. The government’s anti-migrant stance is always irresponsible, but in the context of the pandemic, it was also counterproductive. Its decision to close foreign-owned shops meant that many residents of townships had to go much further to buy necessities, increasing the likelihood of spreading the virus. On 6 April, a new directive permitted all spaza shops to remain open, but by then the damage may have already been done.
In its response to COVID-19, the South African government has exercised a small bit of flexibility in regards to asylum seekers. It has said that anyone whose asylum permit expires in this period will have 30 days after the lockdown is lifted to renew it. While this might seem like a concession, however, seen in context it is clearly inadequate. Even at the best of times, the Department of Home Affairs has failed to keep up with its paperwork. Half of its six refugee reception offices have been closed – either partially or fully – since 2011 despite court orders to reopen them. And according to a 2019 audit, it would take the Refugee Appeals Board 68 years to work through its backlog with existing capacity.
Asylum seekers in South Africa are forced to navigate an onerous and dysfunctional bureaucracy in normal times. A temporary stay on having to renew permits during the pandemic is, at best, merely perfunctory.
What South Africa must do
Before the coronavirus became a crisis in South Africa, the government had been busy restricting the rights of migrants and asylum seekers. In January, it implemented a law that controversially forbids asylum seekers and refugees from taking part in any political activity. In February, it passed a border management bill that further militarises its approach to migration and refugee governance.
Despite the spread of COVID-19, the government is holding fast to its xenophobic instincts, even at the expense of a more effective pandemic response.
If South Africa wants to truly tackle the coronavirus, it cannot be business as usual on this front. The government’s response must be inclusive of all people living in the country – regardless of the papers they hold – for it to work. It must focus stretched resources where they are needed, not on irrelevant and opportunistic projects. And lawmakers must coordinate with their international counterparts – across the region, continent and the world – to tackle this global problem, not just build walls.
It is never the time for point scoring and advancing a xenophobic agenda, but now it is even more reckless than usual.
This virus don’t discriminate who or what you are and where you come from that’s why we in our neighborhood’s looks after our spaza shops there will be no looting going on by us cause if the law can’t protect our brothers from Bangladesh Ethiopia Pakistan or any continent we will deal with those individuals because they provide for us a service and what if I want to travel perhaps to Tanzania Zambia or any other country in Africa how will I look those people in the eyes or they at me. Yes he’s from South Africa where they hurt our brothers and sisters let’s teach him a lesson which is wrong I mean I got a lot of brothers and sisters across Africa spiritual wise which I one day want to go visit now everything is worst because of xenophobia we must look each other in the eyes and see a mirror reflection. Thank you.
This article is rubish. Nothing xenophobic the south African government has done here. They could be protecting Zimbabwe but you decided to look at it one sided. Hate will kill you guys
We will win this pandemic. God is great your hate for South Africa means nothing to us. You hate a country that have sheltered your brothers and sisters. Xenophobic attacks in south Africa are initiated by people like you. People with lot of hate
The author of this article is a sad person, the border is to protect Zimbabwe. Furthermore, you expect SA to be lawless and fail to mention the impact of migrants on normal south Africans, just like any country we also have finite resources. We can’t be the mother Theresa of Africa.
This article is obviously written with one intention and agenda; to discredit SA government. It is biased against South Africa despite the fact that illegal immigration has been a huge problem for years now. All countries have banned international travel, why should South Africa allow it, let alone an illegal travel?
A fence being build is basically hitting two birds with one stone. One to minimise movements to avoid the spread of COVID-19; two to deal with illegal immigration.
Even domestically, movement from one province to another is prohibited. Why would SA government give illegal immigrants special treatment while everyone else is confined at their own homes?
Stop screaming Xenophobia where it does not exist, it makes your argument very weak. Deal with facts in an objective manner chief.
By closing borders, everyone Is protected.
People must not come and get infected here and we must not go out to get it.
Yoooo… It is rubbish rubbish rubbish… Sis
It is sad that a Zimbabwean who is not free to practice politics in his country blame South Africa for saying a South African agenda must be set by South African. He is a foreigner who can freely express his view in country that has adopted him which his country does not allow him to, but he spew hate against country that gave him home. There places of entry which all country agree to and nobody is denied those entries
Most of time south Africans like to escape truth. Your government is very xenophobic and it encourages xenophobic instincts focusing on African immigrants, but keep on protecting Europeans, Americans, Chinese and Australians. Always they protect their people’s xenophobic activities. How would ANC refugees feel if we were xenophobic to them while in hiding during apartheid regime? Would they feel great and enjoy?
My advice to SA GOVERNMENT; try to make Covid19 testing to all people both citizens and immigrants. If you exclude them only because they are hated african foreigners, your country will be in big trouble of coronavirus because Covid19 doesn’t discriminate against Africans foreigners and leaving them out will make the virus to spread even more. The virus just attack human and african foreigners will be infected too because they are human beings but not animals like you guys think. The culture of hatred towards Africans foreigners will only be corrected by south Africans if they consider other humans as creatures of God like them. But SA government must remember that if their hospitals can decide not to treat african foreigners just because they don’t like to see them in south Africa, I assure you that your country’s coronavirus will never be eradicated, and the lives of SAs will be in trouble. Coronavirus doesn’t respect borders or foreigners. The report of this Author is 100% correct and he/she doesn’t fight SA GOVERNMENT but to warn and advise them of the consequences if immigrants might be left out of any measures that may be taken against Covid19. Let’s stop hating each other Africans coz it won’t help us.
“The Wolf,’ disagrees with President Ramaphosa to ‘release lockdown…’
By Zahra Lockhart
(7 May 2020—FF News) The Wolf of Wall Street, Mr. Omar Abdulla
says that
the release of the lockdown could have ‘dire consequences,’ for
South Africa,
with cases reaching 5000 in the African nation and close to four
million worldwide.
“The President is thinking of boosting the economy with his release
of the lockdown,
yet this could have a negative effect causing cases in the
mother nation to rise, and
the increase of the spread of the virus.’ he looped.
Meanwhile, across the world, Covid 19 cases are starting
to roar with the latest
cases at meat packaging plants, nursing homes,
grocery stores and pharmacies.
“President Trump was too slow to close down The United States,
and President
Ramaphosa is too quick to open up the country. We could see a
surge in cases and
the rand reach R23.’ growled South Africa Today.
Speaking to Footprints in South Africa, local resident Ms.
Thando Sithole added that
there is absolutely ‘no social distancing,’ in the townships of Soweto,
Secunda, Khayalisha, Laudium, Lenasia,
and Sebokeng.
“President Ramaphosa is acting too quickly, and soon we will
be in a lockdown again.’
However, Oil prices around the world are still plummeting
due to a lack of demand and
the cut in production with Saudi Arabia and Russia.
“There is simply too much oil in the world, and we are running
out of storage space.’
reported The Economic Times.
Chewing on his pen and waving his hand through his hair,
The Wolf of Wall Street,
Mr. Omar Abdulla says that outbreaks in South Africa are pretty low,
but we could see a spike in new cases in
Pharmacies, Grocery stores and meat packaging companies.
“President Ramaphosa is releasing the lockdown too early, and I
can foresee more cases with
more outbreaks at these facilities. Our request to the president is
this is too quick and more
lives will be lost.’
The Omar Abdulla Group which owns shares into Bitcoin SA,
Forex SA, Instagram SA
And Twitter SA said on their website that they will continue to
buy small amount of
shares into SEO companies Eskom, Telkom, South African Airways
and SABC.
“After receiving over R500 billion rand in loan packages and treasury
bond sales, we could
see an uptick in these shares.’
In o t h e r news, a UFO that was spotted and released by The
Pentagon is said to be
aliens either to cure us from The Corona Virus, and make the
virus strain even stronger
in parts of The United States and Europe.
“The flying sauces that were seen recently could be a sign
that we are not alone.’
NASA said on their website.
The Holy month of Ramadaan has now hit the world, with
Mr. Omar Abdulla said to meet
with Islamic leaders including Mufti Menk, Zain Bhika and Maher Zain.
“We wish all our Muslim leaders a peaceful and joyous Ramadan and Eid.’
Concluding his remarks to The Sunday Times, Mr. Imraan Desai kissed
that he agrees
with The Omar Abdulla Group and once the lockdown has been released,
within a few weeks, we
will be in lockdown again.
These authors are talking rubbish. We are tired of being told what to do in our country. During this period every country is prioritising its interests and citizens. SA is no different. Foreigners who are unhappy must go back go their countries.
Foreigners with big mouths want to dictate how SA should run its affairs instead of dealing with their dysfunctional governments.
We are tired of being blackmailed by non- South Africans who reside in SA; and we refuse to be blackmailed by you; always screaming xenophobia where there is none. SA is a sovereign country with its citizens who must be prioritised over foreigners, legal or not.
South Africa is not Africa. Go and make demands in your own home countries. We did not fight apartheid for foreigners to come and access opportunities when SAns re still struggling. We don’t owe you anything maan. Nxx!! We are tired of you. We are already hosting millions of Zimbabweans, giving them jobs and opportunities at the expense of South Africans; and you lot are ungrateful. Tsek!!! If you want to be heroes go and deal with your Gov.
Why does the whole of Africa feels like South Africa owes them? A whole lot of SADC countries deported (not repatriated) non citizens but mostly Zimbabweans eg Botswana,Namibia,Drc etc including the Us and Uk but there is no general condemnation.South Africa has not deported any foreigners during this pandemic.Is the anything wrong with South Africa protecting its borders and economy to the benefit of its citizens? If African leaders have no regard and respect for its citizenry,is it South African problem?Why is South Africa government always told by foreigners how to conduct its policy framework?In any event im not aware of any policy directive by the South African government that foreigners will not be tested for Covid 19.Why always play a xenophobic card against SA government when they make policy announcements which tend to favour South Africans?Does the Zimbabwean law allow non Zimbabweans to hold employment or register informal businesses. The answer is no.Why should SA be any different? Why so much sense of entitlement by Zimbabweans regarding all things South African.Why not transfer all the energy and enthusiasm in criticising the SA government and turn it against the despots who are ravaging African countries and their economies and more in particular Zimbabwe?I find it strange that millions of foreigners in South Africa and including those that are left behind in their respective counties always hold South Africa to account for their misfortunes but fails to hold their own governments to the same standards hence African despots always get away with everything. Please note that South Africa is not responsible for all the problems in African countries and as such cannot be expected to do more than it is practically possible and within her means.Is it possible for South Africa to continuously cater for migrants to the disadvantage of her own citizenry? Why do you find every African nationality in South Africa who in turn becomes a burden to the social,health and economy of a country? South Africa must be the only country in the world where you find different migrant communities all claiming their respective rights like Zimbabweans community living in South Africa, Nigerian community living in South Africa, Congolese community living in South Africa,Ethiopian community living in South Africa, Somalian community living in South Africa etc.Is the Torongora refugee camp in Zimbabwe maintained by the Zimbabwean government or the UN?If it is the UN (which is a fact) why then is the South African government expected to take care of Zimbabweans and other African migrans,assylum seekers, refugees etc?
Captain Covid, disagrees with President Ramaphosa
to ‘release lockdown…’
By Zahra Lockhart
(7 May 2020—FF News) Captain Covid, Mr. Omar Abdulla
says that
the release of the lockdown could have ‘dire consequences,’ for
South Africa,
with cases reaching 5000 in the African nation and close to four
million worldwide.
“The President is thinking of boosting the economy with his release
of the lockdown,
yet this could have a negative effect causing cases in the
mother nation to rise, and
the increase of the spread of the virus.’ he looped.
Meanwhile, across the world, Covid 19 cases are starting
to roar with the latest
cases at meat packaging plants, nursing homes,
grocery stores and pharmacies.
“President Trump was too slow to close down The United States,
and President
Ramaphosa is too quick to open up the country. We could see a
surge in cases and
the rand reach R23.’ growled South Africa Today.
Speaking to Footprints in South Africa, local resident Ms.
Thando Sithole added that
there is absolutely ‘no social distancing,’ in the townships of Soweto,
Secunda, Khayalisha, Laudium, Lenasia,
and Sebokeng.
“President Ramaphosa is acting too quickly, and soon we will
be in a lockdown again.’
However, Oil prices around the world are still plummeting
due to a lack of demand and
the cut in production with Saudi Arabia and Russia.
“There is simply too much oil in the world, and we are running
out of storage space.’
reported The Economic Times.
Chewing on his pen and waving his hand through his hair,
Captain Covid,
Mr. Omar Abdulla says that outbreaks in South Africa are pretty low,
but we could see a spike in new cases in
Pharmacies, Grocery stores and meat packaging companies.
“President Ramaphosa is releasing the lockdown too early, and I
can foresee more cases with
more outbreaks at these facilities. Our request to the president is
this is too quick and more
lives will be lost.’
The Omar Abdulla Group which owns shares into Bitcoin SA,
Forex SA, Instagram SA
And Twitter SA said on their website that they will continue to
buy small amount of
shares into SEO companies Eskom, Telkom, South African Airways
and SABC.
“After receiving over R500 billion rand in loan packages and treasury
bond sales, we could
see an uptick in these shares.’
In o t h e r news, a UFO that was spotted and released by The
Pentagon is said to be
aliens either to cure us from The Corona Virus, and make the
virus strain even stronger
in parts of The United States and Europe.
“The flying sauces that were seen recently could be a sign
that we are not alone.’
NASA said on their website.
The Holy month of Ramadaan has now hit the world, with
Mr. Omar Abdulla said to meet
with Islamic leaders including Mufti Menk, Zain Bhika and Maher Zain.
“We wish all our Muslim leaders a peaceful and joyous Ramadan and Eid.’
Concluding his remarks to The Sunday Times, Mrs. Imaan Desai kissed
that he agrees
with The Omar Abdulla Group and once the lockdown has been released,
within a few weeks, we
will be in lockdown again.
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Wednesday
Captain Covid ‘talks,’ vaccine theories with RoboCop…??
by Rubina Gafoor
(20 May 2020) Captain Covid, Mr. Omar Abdulla South Africa’s
leading Covid
warrior spoke to fans
this afternoon outside his Lenasia home, stating that cases in
South Africa are still
up, social distancing is not being practised and government is
losing billions through
this pandemic.
“President Ramaphosa has opened the country too quickly
for business, and we are
at the peak of this pandemic. More lives will be lost, and I cannot
save everybody.’
he was quoted as saying.
The World’s greatest crime fighter, RoboCop stated that although
crime was down
around the world due to many countries still under lockdown,
crime was high at
grocery stores and liquor stores.
“These stores have been burgled and hopefully Captain Covid
can stop the outbreak
of the virus at these stores.’
Meanwhile, Captain Covid and RoboCop, have been having
long discussions with US
billionaires, Mr. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.
“We are working with major pharmaceutical companies in
developing anti-body tests,
so that this evil virus can be brought to rest.’
However, Dr. Anthony Fauci from The White House, who spoke
to CNN said that
we may only be in the first wave of this pandemic
and who knows there may be
a second curse wave, that may hit us soon.
“We are happy with the heroic work of Captain Covid and RoboCop
to fight this disease,
and we can only pray a vaccine will be found soon.’
Speaking from her California home, Ms. Kim Kardashian noted
that she was attracted to
the ‘handsome ‘n hunky,’ moves of Captain Covid, and it is
unfortunate that President
Ramaphosa and President Trump only think about the
economy than people’s lives.
“I would consider losing $500 billion dollars over a period of a month in the economy.
instead of loosing 100 000 more people.’
The Omar Abdulla Group which owns shares into Bitcoin SA, Forex SA, Instagram SA,
Twitter SA, Marvel SA and DC SA added that their company was now investing
Into cartoon and superhero forms of media.
“Many thousands of dollars have already started pouring in, with the launch of
Captain Covid.’
Concluding his remarks to The Laudium Daily, Captain Covid, Mr. Omar Abdulla, ended
saying that we should
all wear our masks, wash our hands, and practice social distancing.
Although I don’t agree with everything the writer says I think the writer hits the nail on head about helping the virus spread by excluding testing and treatment for sick foreigners who are inside South Africa. Whether some people like it or not, foreigners are there to stay the world over, no fence or wall is going to stop that! South Africans have intermarried these so called foreigners and living with them under the same roof so excluding them from the health care is useless because you will go back and mingle again and spread it amongst your other relatives. The way to stop the virus spreading is by targeting the source and everyone is a source so should be treated equally. It really doesn’t take a genius to figure that out, does it? Erecting a fence also is stupid considering that Zimbabweans don’t need visas to cross into South Africa so the cost against the risk is not worth it especially after we saw the appalling design and quality of the fence which has already been trampled before completion.
Public
Omar Abdulla signs ‘new vaccine,’ development deal with Dr. Mkhize as
“new variant,’ of Virus looms…??
by Amina Kalla
(December 2020—NBC News) A new constraint of the Corona Virus has mutated,
with some experts saying the origin of this new variant from South Africa.
“We have significant evidence that the new virus has come from South Africa,
with The United Kingdom said to be the latest country to ban, SA.’ Says
local Lenasia Doctor, Mr. Rehaan Kolia.
Kolia says that the much-anticipated meeting between Dr. Zweli Mkhize and
Mr. Omar Abdulla was the negotiations of a vaccine from The United States,
and further development of the Covid 19, vaccine.
“The new strain of virus has hit South Africa hard, with excelled cases in Gauteng,
Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal, as cases within the nation reach one million
cases.’ Abdulla told, SA Times.
Speaking to Footprints in Johannesburg, Dr. Mkize says that when he travels to
the local malls and restaurants, he does not observe social distancing, people are
still not wearing masks, as the second wave develops, much faster than the
first wave.
“My meetings with Abdulla is to ensure that President elect Joe Biden keeps to his
promises of rolling out a vaccine in South Africa, and ensure that we have essential
imported material for our hospitals and clinics.’
The Saturday Star, reported that the roll-out of the vaccine
could be as early as February,
with health care workers and the elderly to receive the vaccine,
soonest.
The Omar Abdulla Group is an investment company into Footprints Filmworks,
Instagram
SA, Tik Tok SA, Vaccines SA and Forex SA, with cumulative investments
into property.
“We see the investment into the distribution of the vaccine a viable option,
as more residents, choose to vaccinate this evil new variant of the virus.’
President of South Africa, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa growled that ‘there will be
No festive season in South Africa, and we should keep our celebrations to a
minimum.’
“Beaches are closed, alcohol is prohibited at certain times, we have a new strain,
In our country, and we ask, the World Health Organization, when will a vaccine
be distributed in
South Africa. Perhaps the time has come, to lock-down a country
as in March 2020,
to drop the close to one million cases’ he said.
Concluding his remarks to The Washington Post, President elect, Joe Biden
added that he was working with Mr. Abdulla to roll out the vaccine
distribution
in South Africa, and the supply
of the vaccine in Africa. “We will not neglect South Africa in this
evil pandemic,
and with the
new strain of the virus, more people are scared.’
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