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I note that the South African Human Rights Commission refers to this phenomenon of blatant tribalism, pillaging and murder as “Afrophobia.” Regardless of what we call it, this attack on people identified as “other” in the locations has more to do with the envy and greed of the perpetrators than “phobia”. Vicious jealousy is aroused in residents who could not or would not make a living in their area of ecological-adaptedness, when a foreigner comes and builds a thriving business “from nothing.”
Mdu Nkosi, IFP Representative in KwaMashu, as quoted 13/05/2015 by News24.com said, “These people [foreign nationals] did not just appear here. While the overwhelming narrative is that they are here illegally and contribute towards high rates of crime, the ones being targeted are honest business people who have every right to trade in South Africa. These people uplift the economy and now there is an effort to drive them out. The government needs to step in. They are our brothers and sisters . . .”
The government has stepped in, providing Refugee Camps and ensuring that the police patrol them regularly! This is a knee-jerk reaction, as usual, to violence and ungovernability, with little being done by way of remediation and prevention. South Africa cannot afford to put all foreigners in Camps to protect them from the citizens! I hear that the Somali Ambassador is working on identifying all Somalis to repatriate them to Somalia. Malawi has been talking along similar lines regarding its citizens now resident and working in South Africa. Zimbabwe is making similar noises.
A creative approach to prevent such attacks has to be directed at the root cause of the aggression toward foreigners. Greed, envy and criminality with a sense of impunity are the real root causes – not Apartheid! Primarily, the solution has to focus on building Small Businesses in the locations, bringing the citizens (locals) and the foreigners together, using the Co-operative format.
The minister of Small and Medium Business Enterprises, Lindiwe Zulu, should lead the project. Foreigners who are good at starting up businesses from nothing, who are not used to expecting and getting anything good from their governments, would make good partners in Trading Co-operatives with location residents and business people. The Co-operatives would be run strictly in accordance with the principles of Co-operatives.
Co-operatives are businesses owned and run by and for their members. Whether the members are the customers, employees or residents they have an equal say in what the business does and a share in the profits. As businesses driven by values not just profit, co-operatives share internationally agreed principles and act together to build a better world through co-operation.
Co-operative values
Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.
Co-operative Principles
The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.
1. Voluntary and Open Membership
Co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, tribal, political or religious discrimination.
2. Democratic Member Control
Co-operatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and co-operatives at other levels are also organised in a democratic manner.
3. Member Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
4. Autonomy and Independence
Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organisations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organisations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.
5. Education, Training and Information
Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of co-operation.
6. Co-operation among Co-operatives
Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.
7. Concern for Community
Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.
The material above comes from the website of The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA); an independent, non-governmental organisation established in 1895!
The South African National Apex Cooperative Ltd (SANACO) was founded in 2009, and is a member of the ICA. Presumably, SANACO can rapidly attend to the Socio-Economic needs of the citizens of South Africa, and engender an acceptance of business partners from other countries to proclaim more veritably, “Together we can do more.”
