Assessing the impact of the South African xenophobic attacks on SADC regional integration principles

ABSTRACT

South Africa is a member of the Southern African Development Community and it is termed the economic master minder of the region due to its economic development in the region unlike the other member states. Therefore by virtue of signing the 1992 SADC treaty it meant that everything that happens in South Africa or that South Africa does has to be in line with the SADC principles or objectives. The research study therefore assessed the impact of the South African xenophobic attacks on SADC regional integration principles or objectives. It is also quite important to highlight that words principles and objectives were used interchangeably throughout the study. Therefore before assessing the impact the study highlighted the SADC principles or objectives which are, to enhance economic development in the region through poverty alleviation, promote free movement of people and goods, consolidate peace, stability and security in the region as well as to promote cultural exchange in the region through interaction to mention but a few.

The study highlighted the nature of xenophobia at a global perspective then moved on to reveal the nature of xenophobia in South Africa which is then traced from pre apartheid then post apartheid up until 2017.The driving force towards the whole study was based on the fact that the SA xenophobic attacks have been occurring periodically ever since apartheid which in turn has moved from being a national problem to being a regional problem as it threatens the success of regional integration in Southern Africa. In the research the impact of SA xenophobic attacks was assessed under three main dimensions which were political, economic and social impact that the attacks have on the various objectives or principles .It is imperative for one to note that literature written by other scholars on the subject at hand was critically reviewed giving detail and gaps that haven’t been fully addressed by various scholars which are the main reason why this study had to be carried out.

The research used a qualitative approach mostly though the quantitative approach is also applied to explain data that is in numeric form. For a reliable data collection procedure research instruments like interviews, questioners, visual presentations and desk top analysis were used. It is also important to note that data was analyzed using excel in the computer for presentation of pie charts and tables and then descriptive method is given in words to explain information presented by graphs. Last but not least after all has been said and done conclusions and recommendations of the study were given as a way of cementing the whole research.