Two years ago, South Africa – one of Africa’s newest yet strongest democracies saw savage behavior break out amongst its citizens. Starting in townships (large dwellings of shacks and houses where South Africa’s poorest people live) in Johannesburg and quickly spreading through the country, some South Africans targeted Africans from other countries, chasing them from their homes, beating them, setting them on fire and killing them. For weeks, Africans in South Africa lived on the streets and in shelters in fear, taken care of by NGOs, local charities and other efforts, and then were quite rapidly re-integrated back into the communities. All seemed fine afterwards.

But now, it seems those who intend to chase foreign Africans out of South Africa are just waiting till the world’s attention shifts after the World Cup. Since the beginning of this year, African immigrants in South Africa have been hearing threats that they will again be forced to leave after the World Cup – The public government response to this has been almost non-existent and even media reports are few. But even though it has been treated as being mere rumors, especially in an environment where the government only wants the world to have a positive impression about South Africa around the World Cup, the threats of impending violence on the ground are strong, and many immigrants are living in fear, especially now that the World Cup is over.

Reports say that South Africans have been buying rubber whips to beat and chase foreign Africans from their homes, and some foreign Africans say they are buying the same to defend themselves. Reports also show that some conflict has already erupted but has been quelled by police and army within hours. This, even as Africans were uniting to cheer on Ghana – the third African team to ever make it to the quarter finals of the Soccer World Cup. 

Ben Ilunga Muteba is 27 – He came to South Africa from the Democratic Republic of Congo three years ago to study Internet Technology in Cape Town. He has also volunteered with local NGOs to support refugees and other immigrants here in South Africa around xenophobia. He reflects on what he has experienced while living in South Africa, the xenophobic outbreak that occurred in 2008 and what he will do if forced to return to the DRC by another outbreak of xenophobic violence in South Africa.

[Note:  SA Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, who also chairs the recently-established Inter-Ministerial Committee on Xenophobia,, has just released a statement saying that violence against foreigners would not be tolerated, while the ANC continues to reject claims that xenophobic violence may break out after the World Cup.]

Two years ago, South Africa – one of Africa’s newest yet strongest democracies saw savage behavior break out amongst its citizens. Starting in townships (large dwellings of shacks and houses where South Africa’s poorest people live) in Johannesburg and quickly spreading through the country, some South Africans targeted Africans from other countries, chasing them from their homes, beating them, setting them on fire and killing them. For weeks, Africans in South Africa lived on the streets and in shelters in fear, taken care of by NGOs, local charities and other efforts, and then were quite rapidly re-integrated back into the communities. All seemed fine afterwards.

But now, it seems those who intend to chase foreign Africans out of South Africa are just waiting till the world’s attention shifts after the World Cup. Since the beginning of this year, African immigrants in South Africa have been hearing threats that they will again be forced to leave after the World Cup – The public government response to this has been almost non-existent and even media reports are few. But even though it has been treated as being mere rumors, especially in an environment where the government only wants the world to have a positive impression about South Africa around the World Cup, the threats of impending violence on the ground are strong, and many immigrants are living in fear, especially now that the World Cup is over.

Reports say that South Africans have been buying rubber whips to beat and chase foreign Africans from their homes, and some foreign Africans say they are buying the same to defend themselves. Reports also show that some conflict has already erupted but has been quelled by police and army within hours. This, even as Africans were uniting to cheer on Ghana – the third African team to ever make it to the quarter finals of the Soccer World Cup. 

Ben Ilunga Muteba is 27 – He came to South Africa from the Democratic Republic of Congo three years ago to study Internet Technology in Cape Town. He has also volunteered with local NGOs to support refugees and other immigrants here in South Africa around xenophobia. He reflects on what he has experienced while living in South Africa, the xenophobic outbreak that occurred in 2008 and what he will do if forced to return to the DRC by another outbreak of xenophobic violence in South Africa.

[Note:  SA Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, who also chairs the recently-established Inter-Ministerial Committee on Xenophobia,, has just released a statement saying that violence against foreigners would not be tolerated, while the ANC continues to reject claims that xenophobic violence may break out after the World Cup.]