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Critiquing Ndlovu's (2014) theorisation of South Africa's ‘exceptionalism’ and ‘xenophobia’ in minister Fikile Mbalula’s speech: an essay

Author

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  • Mavhungu Abel Mafukata

    (Professor and Chair of Department, Department of Development Studies, University of South Africa, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa)

Abstract

This paper uses desktop review to critique Ndlovu (2014)’s analysis of South Africa’s ‘exceptionalism’ and ‘xenophobia’ based on the articulations of the minister of Sports Fikile Mbalula at the Cape Town stadium in September 2014. Critical analysis underpinned on interpretivism was used to argue that Ndlovu chose an irrelevant case to frame his problem. This resulted in the biased analysis as published. Ndlovu (2014) is ignorant on the influence of sports rivalrism on human behaviour – especially as it has been historical between Nigeria and South Africa. Ndlovu’s (2014) description of Black South Africans affirms Euro-American hostility and attitude on Blackness which to this tradition denotes ‘danger’ – a sentiment sponsored by the swart gevaar philosophy of the apartheid regime in South Africa. The idea of the swart gevaar philosophy was to assassinate Blackness and Black people’s character. It is concluded that Ndlovu (2014) is pontifical – wanting to model immigrant nationals as victims of Black South Africans while positioning white and immigrant nationals as the civilised humans who happened to share social space with the barbarous Black South Africans. This is an antagonistic approach of wanting to solve what could be a real challenge in society however ending with the unintended consequence of broadening existing social polarisation. Key Words:Blackness, Citizenship, Exceptionalism, Mwana wevhu, Xenophobia

Suggested Citation

  • Mavhungu Abel Mafukata, 2023. "Critiquing Ndlovu's (2014) theorisation of South Africa's ‘exceptionalism’ and ‘xenophobia’ in minister Fikile Mbalula’s speech: an essay," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 12(3), pages 419-431, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:rbs:ijbrss:v:12:y:2023:i:3:p:419-431
    DOI: 10.20525/ijrbs.v12i3.2471
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John E. Roemer & Karine Van der Straeten, 2006. "The Political Economy of Xenophobia and Distribution: The Case of Denmark," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 108(2), pages 251-277, July.
    2. Mavhungu Abel Mafukata, 2016. "The consequences of China's impending economic crisis on global economy: a predictive scenario on Sub-Saharan Africa," International Journal of Finance & Banking Studies, Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 5(6), pages 24-41, October.
    3. repec:gig:afjour:v:50:y:2015:i:1:p:65-78 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Mokoko Piet Sebola, 2022. "Critiquing scientific writing for knowledge development in South African public administration scholarship: Selected reviews in South African articles and books," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 11(10), pages 410-415, December.
    5. Carol Adjai & Gabriella Lazaridis, 2013. "Migration, Xenophobia and New Racism in Post-Apartheid South Africa," International Journal of Social Science Studies, Redfame publishing, vol. 1(1), pages 192-205, April.
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