Why South Africans hate immigrants

Xenophobia hides behind a string of unconvincing reasons

The attacks by South Africans on foreigners are heartrending. Whether a person is in the country legally or otherwise we cannot sit and fold our arms while the dark flame of xenophobia engulfs the African nation.
During the apartheid years illegal migrant workers from Mozambique, fleeing the civil war in their country, settled in the black townships and lived peacefully with the locals. They used fake ID’s and surnames; they were taunted sometimes but they remained part of our communities.
After the 1994 democratic elections, the government allowed people from other African countries to move freely in and out of the country. Africans fleeing hunger, civil wars, repression and others seeking better career opportunities flocked here.
Some entered the country as refugees, and yet others illegally.
The years following 1994 eroded the hospitality and ubuntu of the South Africans due to a rising cost of living, spiralling crime, corruption in the home affairs department and joblessness.
Accustomed to blaming apartheid for their problems, the locals turned to the illegal immigrants as their scapegoat. Some of the reasons advanced for the inhumane treatment of black foreigners include, amongst others, that:
• They are taking our jobs (they sell their labour far below accepted minimum wages)
• Commit acts of crime (housebreaking, car theft, robbery, muggings, rape etc)
• Steal our names by buying fake ID’s
• Sell drugs and run brothels (mostly referring to Nigerians)
• Dirty and overcrowd the streets of Joburg with their markets (street stalls)
• Take "our" businesses (spaza shops and interent cafés)
• They bring illness and deseases
• Steal our wives and daughters (to make them live-in partners
• Corrupt our government officials
• Invade buildings in the Joburg inner-city
Although some of the concerns raised by South Africans hold water, not all immigrants living here are destroying the country. It is therefore important for us to practice tolerance and accommodate our neighbour in times of need. But obviously we must be wary of bandits who are here to loot and cause chaos.

http://www.reporter.co.za/article.aspx?ID=RP21A754242