Intra-African migration to South Africa continues to be plagued by xenophobic violence and negative sentiments against black foreign bodies. The end of apartheid, exacerbated by regional and broader economic and political tensions on the continent, as well as general support of the anti-apartheid struggle by many African countries, has facilitated greater movement across and within the region. South African migration and economic isolation has in significant ways characterised the myriad forms of social group integration brought about by this transition. In this article we utilise the postcolonial theories of Frantz Fanon and Steve Biko to understand and critique the predominantly negative social representations of black foreign nationals. These social representations are used in the legitimation of xenophobia and other violent attacks against this group. We argue that the politics of race, language, gender and class underpin these incidences of xenophobia. We conclude with an argument for increased engagement with postcolonial contexts of intergroup relations using postcolonial approaches that are able to critically engage with the psychosocial aspects of a postcolonial State.
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Prof. Malose Langa is an Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer in the School of Community and Human Development, Department of Psychology, at the University of Witwatersrand and Senior Research Associate at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Recompilation.
