From Ubuntu to Makwerekwere: Reinvigorating Belonging in Democratic South Africa

The medieval age in Africa relates to communal beliefs or values commonly referred to as Ubuntu in South African parlance. This age-long practice has been passed from one generation to the other. Apartheid was depicted by acute and obvious racism where blacks were denigrated and relegated to the background in society. This era was characterized by camaraderie from sister states who vehemently resisted white minority rule. The attainment of true democracy in 1994 further heralded the need for more labour, because of the presence of a sophisticated and largely industrialized economy. This culminated into mass migrations from the SADC and elsewhere due to political instabilities and other allied challenges and the prospects of a brighter hope in South Africa. The resultant effect was a saturated labour market; unhealthy competition for scarce economic resources by locals and African foreign nationals; supposed astronomical increase in crime rates; proliferation of drug and human trafficking just to mention a few. These narratives have been responsible for the sequence of xenophobic attacks especially against fellow Africans and a few Asians residing in the country. Democracy has not brought justice to both locals and non-nationals in South Africa. What could be responsible for these ugly trends? Could it be hate speech, lack of political will, denialism, and insensitivity on the part of the government? This paper seeks to unravel these facts and make necessary policy recommendations to the state and relevant stakeholders.