South Africa, This Is Not The Legacy Africa Fought For

As a young African growing up during the apartheid era, I followed the news from South Africa with great interest. Africans across the continent prayed, protested, and stood in solidarity with South Africans as they struggled against racial oppression. We celebrated when freedom finally came because we believed a new South Africa would become a beacon of unity, justice, and African brotherhood. When I got to secondary school, I read Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton, a book that exposed the deep social problems, crime, inequality, and moral decay that existed within South African society long before large numbers of African migrants arrived. The challenges of poverty, unemployment, and violence were not created by fellow Africans seeking opportunities; many of these problems already existed and required collective solutions.

It is therefore painful and disappointing to witness repeated attacks on Africans from other countries. Across the years, foreign-owned businesses have been looted, homes destroyed, and innocent people assaulted simply because they were perceived as outsiders. Reports of xenophobic violence have repeatedly brought international condemnation and damaged South Africa's image across the continent. The irony is difficult to ignore. During apartheid, Africans stood with South Africa. Countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia, and many others supported the anti-apartheid struggle politically, diplomatically, and economically. Yet today, some of the descendants of those who received continental solidarity are turning against fellow Africans. Even the great Nelson Mandela warned against such hatred. He stated:

"It saddens and angers me to see the rising hatred of foreigners."

The Nelson Mandela Foundation has also described xenophobic attacks as something that brings South Africa "shame internationally" and threatens the democratic values for which so many sacrificed. No nation prospers by blaming foreigners for every social and economic problem. Crime, unemployment, corruption, and inequality are complex challenges that require responsible leadership and sound policies, not violence against innocent people. Recent reports continue to show that migrants are often scapegoated during periods of economic hardship.

Africa's future lies in unity, not division. The dream of Pan-Africanism cannot survive where Africans attack fellow Africans. South Africa remains an important nation on the continent, but true greatness will be measured not by economic strength alone, but by how it treats the vulnerable, the stranger, and its African brothers and sisters. History teaches us that hatred eventually carries a price. The better path is justice, dialogue, mutual respect, and the spirit of Ubuntu

"I am because we are."

Dr. Gidado Abdulkarim Salimon writes from No 1b Halal Street Daudu Islamic Village, Ilorin kwara state.

Contact Information: Email: abdulkarimgidado9@gmail.com