Perceptions of UKZN Howard College students regarding the 2015 xenophobic attack in Durban, South Africa.

Abstract

Durban KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) was stricken by relentless xenophobic attacks in April 2015 that were mainly directed to foreign African nationals that resides in Durban Metropolitan. However, these attacks did not focus in one geographic area because they were across metropolitan of Durban. The violent attacks firstly broke out in Durban Central Business District (CBD) in KwaZulu-Natal province, and then suddenly spread over many townships including KwaMashu, UMlazi, and Verulam outside of Durban city in KwaZulu-Natal province. When the provincial government realizes the damage caused by xenophobic attacks intervened by increasing the number of police officers as a response to deal with issues such as crime caused by xenophobic attacks. While numerous studies have been conducted across the world about the issue of xenophobic attacks, however, the majority of those studies have little discussions about the opinions of tertiary students regarding the issue of xenophobic attacks affecting the society. As a response to such little discussions, this study was based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Howard college campus to understand the views of students from tertiary education level regarding the issue of xenophobic attacks. This university is situated in Durban in the province of KwaZulu-Natal with most Zulu speaking students coming from the surrounding areas. This study draws on qualitative data. The sample consisted of twenty participants studying at this university. The twenty participants included ten postgraduate South African students and ten foreign African postgraduate students. The participants were interviewed on campus to obtain their perspectives on this matter. The study findings noted that some people lack the knowledge of African history. Then it recommended an effective education to all members of the community regarding the African history because it has been recognized that, the lack of knowledge about African history has contributed to the eruption of xenophobic attacks in the society. The study suggested this because it is anticipated that, the xenophobic attacks would be prevented if the South African people would understand their history.

Keywords: Migration, Migrant, Xenophobia, Refugees.