SA's hard truths

The anti-immigrant violence this week isn't just a symptom of poverty but an illustration of the xenophobia that suffocate the society.

By today, 22 people have been murdered in orchestrated attacks by groups of South Africans against immigrants in poor townships around Johannesburg. Two of these were burned to death. The victims are mainly Zimbabwean immigrants. News reports quote the attackers as saying the immigrants are "job stealers".

This is a modern, industrialised country, with one of the world's most progressive constitutions, that prides itself on inclusivity. South Africans champion such concepts as the "rainbow nation" and "the world in one country", and despite much resistance, held a much-heralded truth and reconciliation commission.

This makes the events of the last week even more vexing.

But South Africa has not confronted all its evil, evidently. The xenophobia that prompted these attacks suffocate the society.

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