Given the association between informal residence and the occurrence of “xenophobic” violence in South Africa, this article examines “xenophobic violence” through a political account of two squatter settlements across ... more abstractGiven the association between informal residence and the occurrence of “xenophobic” violence in South Africa, this article examines “xenophobic violence” through a political account of two squatter settlements across the transition to democracy: Jeffsville and Brazzaville on the informal periphery of Atteridgeville, Gauteng. Using the concepts of political identity, living politics and insurgent citizenship, the paper mines past and present to explore identities, collective practices and expertise whose legacy can be traced in contemporary mobilization against foreigners, particularly at times of popular protest. I suggest that the category of the “surplus person”, which originated in the apartheid era, lives on in the unfinished transition of squatter citizens to formal urban inclusion in contemporary South Africa. The political salience of this legacy of superfluity is magnified at times of protest, not only through the claims made on the state, but also through the techniques for protest mobilization, which both activate and manufacture identities based on common suffering and civic labour. In the informal settlements of Jeffsville and Brazzaville, these identities polarised insurgent citizens from non-citizen newcomers, particularly those traders whose business-as-usual practices during times of protest appeared as evidence of their indifference and lack of reciprocity precisely at times when shared suffering and commitment were produced as defining qualities of the squatter community.

Sociology of Violence, Collective Action, Irregular/Informal Settlements Studies, Migration Studies, Citizenship, and 1 more

In contrast to the tolerant and largely peaceful ‘living politics' of informal settlements, as embodied by the social movement Abahlali baseMjondolo, this article considers a darker side of squatter politics: ‘xenopho... more abstractIn contrast to the tolerant and largely peaceful ‘living politics' of informal settlements, as embodied by the social movement Abahlali baseMjondolo, this article considers a darker side of squatter politics: ‘xenophobic’ mobilization. I show how the historical stratification of citizenship in South Africa remains spatially embedded in longstanding informal settlements, where distinctive repertoires of collective action have been shaped by a (still unfinished) history of struggle for inclusion. Using archival research and interviews conducted in the informal settlements of Atteridgeville, Gauteng, I show how the continuing struggle for equal citizenship draws on shared experiences of mundane hardship and collective labour, giving rise to social distance between established local squatters and politically indifferent foreign newcomers. At times of protest, this polarity is concentrated by and converges with familiar practices of insurgent citizenship, creating a context for mobilization against foreigners. In this sense, ‘xenophobic’ mobilization may be seen to articulate a claim for inclusion by structurally excluded ‘citizens', rather than an exclusionary claim by those who already belong. The article provides a useful counterpoint to readings of ‘xenophobic’ violence that focus on the role of elite discourses, instrumental leaders or crude racial identities in shaping such mobilization.

Collective Violence, Informal Settlements, Xenophobia, and Insurgent Citizenship

Human Rights Education, Humanitarian Intervention, Social cohesion, South Africa, and Xenophobia

More Info: Co-authored with Kathryn Takabvirwa, Jessica Anderson, Tara Polzer Ngwato and Iriann Freemantle

Publication Date: 2012

Violence, Sovereignty, Migration Studies, South Africa, and Xenophobia

Violence, Legal Pluralism, Migration Studies, South Africa, Xenophobia, and 2 more

Media Studies, Violence, South Africa, and Xenophobia

More Info: Co-authored with Rebecca Arian

This report presents findings and recommendations related to an investigation by the South African Human Rights Commission of government responses to the 2008 attacks on non-nationals across South Africa. It focuses o... more abstractThis report presents findings and recommendations related to an investigation by the South African Human Rights Commission of government responses to the 2008 attacks on non-nationals across South Africa. It focuses on issues of the rule of law and justice, without which there can be no meaningful protection of human rights or redress of violations. Key among the findings were: 1) Various challenges resulting from lack of preparation for a complex disaster, and a subsequent failure to adequately preserve institutional memory of the 2008 social conflict disaster with a view to improving responses in the case of a recurrence. 2) Some progress has been made to prevent or prepare for the eventuality of future attacks, but the activities of different government entities need further development, coordination and, in the case of disaster management, evaluation and consolidation at national level. 3) Poor infrastructure and housing conditions in informal settlements creates a context in which both everyday crime and public violence are unmanageable. This resonates with research that has identified accumulated service delivery frustrations as a key characteristic of wards at risk of violence. 4) Poor relationships between communities, police and elected local leaders such as councillors undermine human security and encourage withdrawal from the justice system and indirctly promote ‘self-help’ solutions such as popular justice. Local leaders often pursue personal agendas instead of those of the community, or are simply indifferent to community concerns. This finding seems to support research that identifies the micropolitics of local communities as a factor that distinguishes communities that fall victim to social conflict. 5) Social cohesion plays an important role in the protection of non-nationals, which relates to research linking attacks to communities of high population heterogeneity. 6) So-called 'reintegration' of persons displaced during the 2008 violence was not carried out in a consistent and systematic way and is not being adequately monitored. Nor have existing plans to address future attacks dealt with the issue of a sustainable exit strategy to a social conflict displacement.

Criminal Justice, Violence, Human Rights, Immigration, Rule of Law, and 2 more

International Relations, Immigration, Africa, Forced Migration, and Refugees

Criminal Justice, Immigration, Security Studies, Policing Studies, South Africa, and 1 more

More Info: Co-authored with Jean-Pierre Misago, SA Crime Quarterly 29, pp. 25-34

Xenophobia

Location: ANR Xenafpol Workshop, Les Afriques dans le Monde, IEP Bordeaux

Event Date: May 29, 2012

Location: 'Centres and Peripheries', LSE Sociology Department Annual Conference, Cumberland Lodge, UK

Event Date: Jan 2012

Location: National Community Policing Consultative Forum (NCPCF, Hartebeespoort, South Africa

Event Date: Aug 28, 2009

Location: Collective Violence Research/Intervention Workshop. Hosted by SCVR & SWOP Institute, Johannesburg

Event Date: Aug 24, 2009

Location: IASFM 12, University of Nicosia, Cyprus

Conference End Date: Jul 2, 2009

Conference Start Date: Jun 28, 2009

Location: "Exorcising the Demon Within: Xenophobia, Violence, and Statecraft in Contemporary South Africa”, workshop hosted by the Forced Migration Studies Programme, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

Event Date: May 22, 2009

Location: “Exorcising the Demon Within: Xenophobia, Violence, and Statecraft in Contemporary South Africa”, workshop hosted by the Forced Migration Studies Programme, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

Event Date: May 22, 2009

Location: “In Search of Solutions: Methods, Movements and Undocumented Migrants in Africa”, research and training workshop hosted by the Wilberforce Institute for the study of Slavery and Emancipation (University of Hull) and the Forced Migration Studies Programme (University of the Witwatersrand), University of the Witwatersrand

Conference End Date: Jul 4, 2008

Conference Start Date: Jul 1, 2008