The Conflict Resolution Of South Africa

In a Western perspective, Africa is perceived as a poor, insecure, and violent continent. Although this statement is ignorant and disregards the multidimensional issues that are in each of the 54 countries, security and violence is a general issue in most African countries. African countries have not endured an easy history, and their history continues to create present conflicts. Their violent colonial past has left certain countries with ethnic rivalries and left their legacies with agents of security. Although the colonial past of African countries have been the leading cause of many of their current problems, they cannot be blamed for everything. Additionally, there is a positive correlated relationship between the state and the violence

Since the end of the Apartheid, xenophobic violence is understood to have significantly increased in South Africa.

“South Africa cannot escape its African destiny. If we do not devote our energies to this continent, we too could fall victim to the forces that have brought ruin to its various parts” (Mandela, 1993: 89). The South African government, after the apartheid regime, made African issues one of the pillars of its foreign policy. The government committed itself to Africa because of various reasons, however, the most obvious reason is that the country wants to show loyalty to African States who played a hand in the liberation struggle. The areas of engagement South Africa has set out for itself in the Africa-mission are the following: “the encouragement of cultural exchange; the emancipation of African women from

This paper is going to present significant issues regarding implementation of racial segregation impacted by the Apartheids in South Africa. It has been learned that based on the historical events, Apartheid movement against black native is an organization created in South Africa, advocating extremism and reactionary existence of white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration through expression of terrorist activity that occurred in South Africa. Apartheid have been always responsible for the massive violent riots across South African states that burned vast majority of immigrant, non-white, and black houses including all valuable possessions. Moreover, the white apartheid indiscriminately executed non-white and other individuals that were non-whites through lynching or hanging them in the trees and accuse these individuals instantly without conducting investigations. These are one of the hate groups having their objectives of protecting white interests using protestant faith by violence and

Many of the contemporary issues in South Africa can easily be associated with the apartheid laws which devastated the country. The people of South Africa struggle day by day to reverse “the most cruel, yet well-crafted,” horrific tactic “of social engineering.” The concept behind apartheid emerged in 1948 when the nationalist party took over government, and the all-white government enforced “racial segregation under a system of legislation” . The central issues stem from 50 years of apartheid include poverty, income inequality, land ownership rates and many other long term affects that still plague the brunt of the South African population while the small white minority still enjoy much of the wealth, most of the land and opportunities

Since its colonization by England and the Dutch, South Africa’s government struggled under power hungry colonial leaders and most recently under the white dominated Apartheid regime. Before colonization, South Africa was ruled by different tribes each having jurisdiction over their section of land. Eventually, South Africa like so many other Africa countries, fell victim to European colonization. The first European settlers were Dutch, who arrived in 1652 and worked for the Dutch East India Company, whose main focuses were trade, exploration, and colonization. In 1820 the British arrived and for years South Africa was suppressed and ruled by Britain and the Dutch. Finally, South Africa gained independence on May 31, 1910. The country was unified from its previous divided British colonies and was now called the Union of South Africa, ruled by its minority white population. In 1948, the National Party won the election and was lead by Daniel Malan. Malan and the National Party installed the apartheid system, a word meaning apartness, which segregated the country into blacks to whites. In 1950, Malan created the Registration Act and which required everyone to classify according to race, and African Americans were forced to live in separate cities and ostracized by the white population. Through almost 50 years South Africa lived through a dark stage while the rest of the world shunned them and the UN deemed the apartheid a “crime against humanity.”

Decolonization was sweeping across the African continent during the 1950’s and during this time in South Africa, apartheid was being solidified by a white minority government. Early anti-apartheid struggles were predominantly non-violent until the 1960 Sharpeville incident when police opened fire on an unarmed group of demonstrators (Reid 292). Activists and groups such as the African National Congress (ANC) became more violent because the government in charge was using violent means to control them and their

Generations of Americans grew, and continue to age, studying the inspiring shouts of freedom that erupted from Nelson Mandela and protesters during South Africa 's journey away from apartheid. It’s a curious ponder, in fact, that America’s and South Africa’s ascents from racial discrimination were possibly involved with each other. However, while the world may be convinced the nation is out of racist depths, evidence displays the rise from discrimination in South Africa is undeniably incomplete. There is a dangerous and unresolved influence of apartheid in South Africa today.

I have always thought that Nelson Mandela has been one of the most important people in history. I find it very fascinating that one man could end the Apartheid and that is why I want to find out more about this. South Africa is a country with a past of enforced racism and separation of its multi-racial community. The White Europeans invaded South Africa and started a political system known as 'Apartheid' (meaning 'apartness'). This system severely restricted the rights and lifestyle of the non-White inhabitants of the country forcing them to live separately from the White Europeans. I have chosen to investigate how the Apartheid affected people’s lives, and also how and why the Apartheid system rose and fell in South Africa.

Another reason for the occurrence of xenophobia or a justification for this ill treatment of foreigners is on the basis of the South African economic and social issues they are facing where around half of the population is said to be living in poverty (Neocosmos, 2011). Acco0rding to Neocosmos (2011) this has led to the widespread social exclusion of foreigner, as they are viewed as competitors for scarce resources.The notion of competition for scarce resources is actually true, especially when following the patterns of xenophobic attacks that have previously taken place. It is evident thatan outburst of xenophobic violence usually occursin townships and informal settlements, where foreign nationals compete with the poorest South Africans to make themselves a basic living (Crush, 2001).

According to Xenophobia and Violence in South Africa (2008) the reasons for the attacks differ and they include:

Xenophobia is a Social and Political issue in South Africa which I believe needs revolution. Xenophobia, ‘the fear of and prejudice against black immigrants’, exists in my community, Rosettenville as there have been attacks on foreigners. African immigrants have been labeled as the threatening ‘other’, a danger to the natives of South Africa. This perception that the ‘other’ contaminates the nation and brings no value to South Africa is what I believe needs to be changed as it has incited violent attacks and claimed innocent lives of African foreign nationals. According to Inocent Moyo 2015, ”the imagined community suggests that African immigrants are not only undesirables, but that the South African state should disassociate itself from

Post-Apartheid South Africa has been a beacon of hope to the entire African continent. After its democratic elections in 1994, South Africans were optimistic that life would be better and more equal in every way. Many Africans used South Africa as a sign of better times to come and when these hopes weren’t realized in their own countries, an influx of immigrants appeared at South Africa’s borders. These newcomers arrived for a variety of reasons, many were escaping violence and torture in their homelands while others were ‘economic refugees’ who were seeking employment in South Africa’s growing economy.

Since its formation in 2001, the constitutive act of the AU has taken normative and constitutional steps towards the realization of a strong and effective political, economic and judicial organization for the continent . The ideals that led to the creation of the AU 's predecessor, the OAU proceeded from the notion that countries in Africa should unite to fight colonial subjugation as well as improve the lives of their people. Despite these noble ideals, it took a few wars, these are; Western Sahara (involving Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, and France), the Shaba rebellions( the attempted invasions of Zaire), the invasion of Benin, and the Ogaden war against Somalia to show the weaknesses and disunited front of the OAU following its failure to respond to the emerging conflict situations.

Through a fair electoral system, the South African government has elected and been led by the African National Congress (ANC) over the past twenty years. Yet, with the limitations on rights, they have not been able to identify with all of the main circumstances that make up a democratic government. A democratic political system must meet “three essential conditions: meaningful and extensive competition among individuals and organized groups (especially political parties) for the major positions of government; a highly inclusive level of political participation in the selection of leaders and policies, at least through regular and fair elections,…and a level of civil and political liberties – freedom of expression, freedom of press,