Usindiso Inquiry: Scapegoating of foreign nationals for govt failure ‘not just in SA’

Dr Anthony Kaziboni, a senior researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand, is the latest witness at the commission, which is looking into the deaths of more than 70 people who resided in the hijacked building in August last year.

Victims and displaced persons included Zimbabwean, Tanzanian, Malawian, and South African nationals.

At the time of the incident, senior political officials were accused of victim blaming when they made controversial statements about hijacked buildings.

Speaking at the commission on Wednesday, Kaziboni said around 2019, opposition political parties spearheaded a concerning anti-immigrant stance.

"This coincided with the rise of Operation Dudula, which then was a vigilante group but now has been accepted as a political party which demonstrates fascists, narrow nationalistic, and right-wing conservative ideals where they argue for the protection and securitisation of South African borders."

In December last year - one of the inquiry's commissioners, Thulani Makhubele, was recused after his endorsement of the anti-foreigner group Operation Dudula was red-flagged by the victims' lawyers.

READ MORE: Official recused from Marshalltown fire enquiry

Kaziboni said the anti-foreigner narrative takes advantage of existing sentiments over the government's failure to deliver services.

"[Politicians] appeal to public sentiment by not taking accountability of issues around service delivery, lack of employment opportunities, rising levels of crime, as well as the failing healthcare that we have."

The witness was asked to explain his evidence that undocumented immigrants contribute to high levels of crime in South Africa and a burden on state-sponsored services.

He says their report on the subject was informed by information gathered from the Department of Justice and Correctional Services due to the lack of aggregated information about the nationality of arrested persons from the police.

"From 2017 to 2022, it noted that we would have 2.3% of incarcerated persons being undocumented immigrants.

"South Africa is facing multiple crises, which are high unemployment, high inequality, and pervasive poverty across the country. Further to that, corruption, as well as poor governance, have contributed to the poorest of the poor bearing the brunt. The country loses R27 billion to corruption and illicit activities annually. In addition to that, more than 76,000 work opportunities are lost."

He said a 2018 study by foreign organisations, based on information collected between 1996 and 2011, showed that contrary to the belief that immigrants scupper employment opportunities from nationals, there is a positive association with an immigrant working in South Africa potentially contributing to two work opportunities for locals.

Kaziboni also rubbished claims that the population of the Johannesburg CBD houses a majority of foreign nationals.

Available statistics indicated that we had approximately 3.95 million foreign nationals, which included undocumented immigrants and anyone who was born outside of the country.

"The study focuses on national dynamics, so the assertion of 80% of Joburg CBD being occupied by foreign nationals is theoretically impossible to ascertain. You would need to draw a sample and look at the whole population, clearly demarcating what the Joburg CBD is, and conduct a study. So, based on the figure that is proposed, one would be interested in seeing how it was ascertained," elaborated Kaziboni.

There was no cross-examination of the witness.

The commission resumes on Monday when a new witness is expected to give evidence.

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