Conflict and Concord: The Ambivalence of African Migrant/Host Relations in South Africa

✍ Scribed by Christopher Isike (editor), Efe Mary Isike (editor)

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Year: 2022
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 277
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

The book is a response to the dominant discourse of South Africa as unwelcoming to African immigrants. Acknowledging the reality of xenophobia against African migrants in South Africa, it explores the positive spaces of interactions between South Africans and African migrants that do not necessarily result in tension. Hence, the book is about conviviality, cohabitation, interdependency and the production of a multicultural rainbow nation. South Africa, its constitution and representation as a multicultural society is the perfect context to experiment with the ideas in the book. Part of the objectives is therefore to demonstrate, as contained in the title, the ambivalence of this relationship which the popular discourse of xenophobia has silenced.

✦ Table of Contents

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
Contents
Notes on Contributors
Abbreviations
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Contact, Conflict and Concord Between African Migrants and South Africans: An Introduction
Background
Methodology
Organization and Structure
References
2 Understanding the Contact, Conflict and Conviviality Discourse
Introduction
Explaining Xenophobia in South Africa
False Belief Theory
New Racism
Social Identity Theory and Intergroup Relations
Contact Theory, Conflict and Conviviality
Conclusion
References
3 Parities and Disparities in Applying Immigration Legislation/Policies from a World Class National Constitution
Introduction
Of Honey and Honeycombs: The Constitution and Immigration Legislation/Policies of South Africa
Human Mobility and the Crossing of Nation-State Borders
The Constitution and Immigration Legislation/Policies of South Africa
Immigration Realities Under South Africa’s Constitution and Immigration Legislation/Policies
The Executive and Immigration Realities
Social Life and Immigration Realities
Gay Kenyan Asylum Seeker in South Africa
Mozambican Immigrant Cuffed and Dragged Behind a Police Van in South Africa
Immigration Realities in South African Communities
Concluding Remarks
References
4 Xenophobia Against Nigerian Immigrants in South Africa: The Naijaphobia Perspective
Introduction
Racism, Xenophobia and the South African Context: A Literature Review
Journey to the South: History of Nigerians’ migration to South Africa
Xenophobic Attacks on Nigerians: Facts, Not Fiction
Patterns of Naijaphobia
Criminalisation
Institutional Naijaphobia
Professional Naijaphobia
Societal Naijaphobia
Causes of Naijaphobia
State Failure
Attitude of Nigerians
Political Reasons
Conclusion
References
5 Cyberspace Xenophobia in South Africa
Introduction
The Power of Social Media as Platform for Engagement
Conceptualizing Space
Creating the Space
Characteristics of Social Media
False Belief Theory
Methodology
Presentation of Xenophobic Comments
Analysis of Xenophobic Comments on Cyberspace
Social Media as a New Space for Propagating Xenophobia in South Africa
Social Media as a Platform for Mobilizing for Xenophobic Action on the Ground
Xenophobic Attitudes and Socio-economic Class
Concluding Remarks
References
6 From Paradise Gain to Paradise Loss: Xenophobia and Contradictions of Transformation in South African Universities
Introduction
Apartheid and the Politics of Exclusion in the Higher Education System in South Africa
Transformation in Higher Education in South Africa: Issues and Debates
(Mis?) Transformation in South African Universities and Job Conditions of African Academic Diasporas
Analysis of Data from Primary Sources
First Respondent
Second Respondent
Third Respondent
The Fourth Respondent
Conclusion and Recommendations
References
7 Language, Being, Belonging, and Non-belonging in South Africa
Introduction
Talking South African
Language and Power—Resistance Politics of Language
Mechanisms of Survival
Language and Afrophobic Conflict
Creation of the African Other
Dehumanizing the African ‘Other’
Conclusion
References
8 Beyond Xenophobia: Migrants-Locals in Socio-Economic Spaces in Cape Town, South Africa
Introduction
Migration in South Africa
Migrants-Locals in Street and Train Station Vending
Locals in Migrant Churches
Barbershops and Salons
Marriage, Clothing and Other Ways Life
Conclusion
References
9 Foes, Friends or Both? Looking Beyond Hostility in Relations Between Congolese Migrants and South Africans in Empangeni
Introduction
Methodological Note on Social Network Theory and Method
Sample Population and Places of Interaction Studied
Presentation and Discussion of Findings
Jean-Pierre Kalumba (Interviewed 13/09/16)
Migrating to South Africa
Living Arrangements
Workplace Ties
Friendship Ties
Kinship Ties
Most Important South African Tie
Zungu Ndlovu (Jean-Pierre’s Tie Interviewed 20/09/16)
Felicity Nzamwita (Interviewed 14/09/16)
Migrating to South Africa
Living Arrangements
Workplace Ties
Friendship Ties
Most Important South African Tie
Ntombi Dlamini (Felicity’s Tie Interviewed 21/09/16)
Conclusion
References
10 ‘First Comes Love, then Comes Marriage?’: Exploring the Narratives and Experiences of South African Partners of Nigerian Male Immigrants in South Africa
Introduction
Immigration and Integration
Assimilation Theory and Host-Immigrant Relationships
Migrants and Relationships—The Case of UNWISA
Findings and Discussions
Motivation for Marriage
Negative Experiences in Spousal Relationships
Positive Experiences in Spousal Relationships
Challenges Encountered as a Result of Marrying a Nigerian
Institutional Barriers to the Integration of Nigerians in South Africa
Conclusion
References
11 How Can Contact Foster Concord? An Analysis of Relations Between Mozambican Migrants and South Africans in Mpumalanga Province in South Africa
Introduction
Presentation and Discussion of Findings
Demographic Profile of Mozambican Respondents
Age and Gender of the Migrant Sample
Income Qualifications
Duration of Stay
Formation of Networks
Conclusion
References
12 “We Know Each Other”: Analyzing Interactions Between African International and Local Students in South African Universities
Introduction
International Student Migration: A Literature Review
Methodology
Discussion of Results
Analysis of Findings
Conclusion
References
13 Conclusion: Contact, Concord and Social Cohesion in South Africa
A Synopsis
Some Plausible Policy Considerations for Social Cohesion
References
Index