Language as a Tool of Divisive Politics: Perspectives on Foreign Nationals in South Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/1727-3781/2023/v26i0a15552Keywords:
xenophobia, poisonous pedagogues, foreign migrants, immigration, hate speech, freedom of speechAbstract
The role of language in a diverse and democratic society is critical for many reasons: first, it serves as a vital tool for the realisation of the right to freedom of expression. Secondly, it brings into confluence two other rights: the rights to dignity and equality. When language has the potential to cause hurt or harm, or incite others towards hatred, discrimination, or violence, then law as an instrument must be relied upon to regulate it. Political rhetoric uttered by top politicians in South Africa does not reflect the truth from a policy perspective; it incites hatred towards foreign nationals, shatters communities as fear and suspicion fill individuals who target foreign nationals and is counterproductive when one thinks of nation-building. The rhetoric exceeds the limits of legally protected speech. In addition, scapegoating foreign nationals for the country's socio-economic woes is not only dishonest but is a form of political corruption.
Downloads
References
Bibliography
Literature
Artz DE "Nuremberg, Denazification and Democracy: The Hate Speech Problem at the International Military Tribunal" 1994-1995 NY L Sch J Hum Rts 689-758
Beaman J "Towards a Reading of Black Lives Matter in Europe" 2021 Journal of Common Market Studies 103-114 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.13275
Benkler Y, Faris R and Roberts H Network Propaganda: Manipulation, Disinformation, and Radicalization in American Politics (Oxford University Press Oxford 2018) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190923624.001.0001
Christián L, Erdős Á and Háló G "The Background and Repercussions of the George Floyd Case" 2022 Cogent Social Sciences 1-17 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2022.2082094
Cornelius N "From Slavery and Colonialism to Black Lives Matter: New Mood Music or More Fundamental Change?" 2020 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal 8-30 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-07-2020-0199
Des Forges A "Call to Genocide: Radio in Rwanda, 1994" in Thompson A (ed) The Media and the Rwanda Genocide (Pluto Press London 2007) 41-54 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt18fs550.9
Elsheikh E and Sisemore B 2021 Islamophobia through the Eyes of Muslims: Assessing Perceptions, Experiences, and Impacts https://belonging.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/2021-10/Islamophobia%20Through%20the%20Eyes%20of%20Muslims.pdf accessed 8 October 2023
Finkelman P "Speech, Press, and Democracy" 2002 Wm & Mary Bill Rts J 813-826
Heaney MT "Protest at the Center of American Politics" 2020 J Int'l Aff 195-208
Kteily N and Bruneau E "Backlash: The Politics and Real-World Consequences of Minority Group Dehumanization" 2017 Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 87-104 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167216675334
Nguyen TT et al "Progress and Push-Back: How the Killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd Impacted Public Discourse on Race and Racism on Twitter" 2021 SSM-Population Health 1-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100922
Reny TT and Newman BJ "The Opinion-Mobilizing Effect of Social Protest against Police Violence: Evidence from the 2020 George Floyd Protests" 2021 Am Pol Sci Rev 1499-1507 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055421000460
Sobo EJ, Lambert H and Heath CD "More than a Teachable Moment: Black Lives Matter" 2020 Anthropology and Medicine 243-24 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13648470.2020.1783054
Stats SA Documented Migrants in South Africa, 2012 (Stats SA Pretoria 2013)
Stats SA Documented Immigrants in South Africa, 2013 (Stats SA Pretoria 2014)
Stats SA Documented Immigrants in South Africa, 2014 (Stats SA Pretoria 2015)
Stats SA Documented Immigrants in South Africa, 2015 (Stats SA Pretoria 2016)
Stotzky IP "The Role of a Free Press and Freedom of Expression in Developing Democracies" 2002 U Miami L Rev 255-306
Van Vollenhoven WJ "The Right to Freedom of Expression: The Mother of Our Democracy" 2015 PELJ 2299-2327 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/pelj.v18i6.08
Case law
Economic Freedom Fighters v Minister of Justice and Correctional Services 2021 2 SA 1 (CC)
Khumalo v Holomisa 2002 5 SA 401 (CC)
Qwelane v South African Human Rights Commission 2021 6 SA 579 (CC)
S v Mamabolo 2001 3 SA 409 (CC)
Vejdeland v Sweden Application No 1813/07 (ECtHR) 9 February 2012
Legislation
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
Immigration Act 13 of 2000
Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000
International Instruments
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (1981)
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965)
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
Internet sources
Anon 2017 Trump Suspends US Refugee Programme and Bans Syrians Indefinitely https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38777437 accessed 2 November 2022
Cahill S, Wang T and Jenkins B 2019 Trump Administration Continued to Advance Discriminatory Policies and Practices against LGBT People and People Living with HIV in 2018 https://fenwayhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/Trump-Administration-Impact-on-LGBTs-Year-Two-Brief_Web.pdf accessed 2 November 2022
Landau LB 2015 Political Rhetoric and Institutions Fuel Xenophobic Violence in South Africa https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2015/05/11/political-rhetoric-and-institutions-fuel-xenophobic-violence-in-south-africa/ accessed 3 June 2023
Lind D 2015 Donald Trump's War on Muslims, Explained https://www.vox.com/2015/12/9/9872908/donald-trump-muslims accessed 3 June 2023
Mazarura T 2022 The Political Agency of Xenophobia and Xenophobic Violence in South Africa: A Call for Responsible Leadership https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2022-03-16-the-political-agency-of-xenophobia-and-xenophobic-violence-in-south-africa-a-call-for-responsible-leadership/ accessed 3 June 2023
Myeni T 2022 S African Minister Suggests Foreigners are to Blame for no Jobs https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/16/s-africa-minister-suggests-foreigners-to-blame-for-no-jobs accessed 1 November 2022 Myeni 2022
Myeni T 2022 What is Operation Dudula, South Africa's Anti-Migration Vigilante? https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2022/4/8/what-is-operation-dudula-s-africas-anti-immigration-vigilante accessed 1 November 2022
Pierce S and Meissner D 2017 Trump Executive Order on Refugees and Travel Ban: A Brief Review https://www.migrationpolicy.org/ sites/default/files/publications/Trump-EO-Refugees-TravelBan-FINAL.pdf accessed 3 June 2023 Rall 2022
Rall S-A 2022 Limpopo Health MEC Causes Stir on Social Media Calling on Hospital to Charge Foreigner for Treatment https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/limpopo/limpopo-health-mec-causes-stir-on-social-media-calling-on-hospital-to-charge-foreigner-for-treatment-d2463c86-6971-4c36-adfb-faf2598e46d7 accessed 1 November 2022
Welle D 2022 South Africa: New Campaign Reignites Xenophobic Rhetoric https://frontline.thehindu.com/dispatches/south-africa-new-campaign-reignites-xenophobic-rhetoric/article65396102.ece accessed 4 June 2023
Yount A 2017 Study Finds Troubling Consequences for Anti-Muslim and Anti-Mexican Attitudes and Actions https://www.asc.upenn.edu/news-events/news/study-finds-troubling-consequences-anti-muslim-and-anti-mexican-attitudes-and-actions accessed 2 November 2022
Zulu A 2019 Strangers are Blamed for our Burdens https://mg.co.za/article/2019-08-16-00-strangers-are-blamed-for-our-burdens/ accessed 1 November 2022
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Avitus Agbor
![Creative Commons License](http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/4.0/88x31.png)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.