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Fearing being forced to return to Zimbabwe by Xenophobic Violence in South Africa after the World Cup

yenza — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:38:27 +0000

I am a Zimbabwean woman. I came to South Africa in 2007 to look for a job since the situation in Zimbabwe so bad. I was married but my husband passed away in 2003. Since then, life as a widow and single mother was so hard for me. That is why I decided to come to South Africa, where I was thinking my problems would be solved. I started working in 2007 here in South Africa as a cleaner – doing housekeeping. Everything was going well for me. I was managing to send money back home until 2008 when things changed in South Africa. There was Xenophobia – the hatred of different cultures. In South Africa, the Black South Africans are the ones being Xenophobic to other non South African Black people (ex. other Africans).

Where I was staying was cool but after two days we were fearing what we saw on TV in other places – In Johannesburg and other places, people were being burned and beaten, their things were being stolen. Then we started moving to the churches and other White people’s places because they were waiting for us by the road and wanting to help. I had nowhere to go but there was a White lady who drove by and asked me if me and my friends had somewhere to go. Then we went to her place. But in Masiphumele where I live, no one was hurt. Then after two days it was over in Masiphumelele, but some people promised that after the World Cup, there would be Xenophobic violence. I thought it was just a joke, but then this year there were more serious threats that after the World Cup Black South Africans will chase us Black non-South Africans back to our countries – or they will fight.

So what I am thinking is that they were scared that other non South African international visitors would not come to watch soccer if there was fighting in South Africa, so that is why they said we will be chased out after the World Cup.

Once, when I was in a commuter taxi, I was sitting in front and the driver thought I was South Africa. When he understood that I am not South African he was cross (angry) that I sat in the front because he didn’t want non-South Africans in the front of his taxi. He was promising to beat us non South Africans after the World Cup but then I said “You better be strong because I will beat you too!” and the people on the taxi started laughing at us. In the last few months, Black South Africans from the Khayelitsha township have been selling rubber whips – they call them imvobu – to beat non-South Africans. I then decided to buy my own one so if one or two people try to beat me, I will try to beat them back, but if they are many, I will run away. About ten days ago, I heard that a group of people were threatening non South Africans where I live. This was just after Uruguay beat South Africa in South Africa’s 2nd World Cup game – I am told they said “We are beaten, you must go now” but that people refused to go and soldiers came and everything stopped. Now, there are soldiers and policemen all around Masiphumelele and where I am staying some landlords refused to take rent money and told people to pay after the World Cup or after Xenophobic violence breaks out because maybe those people will have to leave the houses they are renting because they will be going back to their own countries. I think it will be okay here for some days, but I’m worried that after the international visitors leave South Africa after the World Cup, the police will just ignore the threats and not look after us.

Anonymous for Yenza (Copyright Yenza 2010)

Ghana, Africa and Xenophobia in South Africa

yenza — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 06:48:50 +0000

Yesterday on July 2^nd, I was at my father’s house in the township of Khayelitsha when the soccer game started between Ghana and Uruguay. My father who is 90 years old was lying on the bed – he is disabled and needs a wheelchair to move around. He listened to the game on the radio because he enjoys the radio more than TV – he says that radio explains more than TV. I was surprised that at that time of night he was not sleeping. He opened the radio loudly which I think shows that he is a proud African – that he feels the spirit, that connection of being an African.

I think the support of Africans around Ghana shows that Xenophobic anger in South Africa is not because we don’t love other Africans. It is financial difficulty that has caused the Xenophobia here, not hatred. When Ghana scored against Uruguay, everyone was excited. Unfortunately I don’t have a vuvuezala, but I went outside to see if there was anyone in the streets. I heard some vuvuzelas, kids were not sleeping. People did not give up on the World Cup or on Africa because Bafana Bafana lost. Ghana stood for our continent.

I went to the street where some Ghanaian people stay – there were songs, vuvuzelas and it was a party atmosphere. Instead of them celebrating alone they came together for the Cup. I was quite surprised to see the reaction to the South African people – Everyone was excited.

I think that the World Cup did play an important role in combining people, especially South Africans and other African countries even though we live with a tension between other Africans and South Africans. I noticed when looking at the game on TV that the stadium was full of different people – the world is being driven by the ball. Football makes us one, speaking the same language. Football has made all of us forget everything like Xenophobia, poverty, crime and just concentrate on the ball in the moment.

The support for Ghana that came from the township did surprise me because I didn’t expect Black South Africans to be so engaged around another African team. This is because we often hear that after the World Cup, the Xenophobia disease would arrive (fighting). But yesterday, everyone was feeling it. Everyone supported the team on the fields, the fans were yelling cheers at them or blowing vuvuzelas.

I also noticed that after Ghana lost, the streets were quiet, and there were no longer vuvuzelas. Everyone was upset because Ghana didn’t make it. They had the bad feeling that we lost. Even in the stadium, I noticed on TV the people’s expressions – there was no longer that vibe of happiness.

All I can say is that football is a body language which allows an amazing communication of joy and happiness throughout the world. My message is that if we all can work together to beat racism, crime, Xenophobia and stop killing each other, the world will be clean and the Creator of the world will stay happy. Working together, with each other, we can make it happen.

By Lindeka Qampi for Yenza (Copyright Yenza 2010)

Spain, Soccer City is Calling

yenza — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:05:12 +0000

My name is Odwa Magewebeba and I am South African. I am proud of my country. As a South African citizen, I was very happy to hear that my country would host the biggest football tournament in the world — the FIFA World Cup 2010. Once the games started, I was feeling it – with high expectations for my team, Bafana Bafana. The nation was fully behind them and all they needed was to show us that they could make it to the finals. But they have failed to go to the next stage of the tournament and we were very disappointed, and so was I because we are the hosts and it was their job to make us proud by qualifying to the 2nd stage of the tournament. But all of that is history to me because now I am left with only one team that I can support – which is Spain, and I believe in them because they are playing a quality of football that I want to see and they are really making me proud because they made it to the quarter finals of the tournament when they won the match against Portugal, 1 goal to zero. They are playing quality football because they are a strong team of players and have a very good coach, which also makes the team very strong. There is still plenty of work to be done and they must make sure they make it to the top. But to get to the top, Spain must focus in every match they play, in order to come out with a positive result that will place them to the next stage of the FIFA World Cup. I hope they win their last match and take the trophy home because they deserve it. I say so because they showed me that they can do it and I am very proud of them. I hope Bafana Bafana will do much better the next time because we will continue to show our support each and every time they play.

[This was written prior to Spain beating Paraguay to make it to the semi-finals of the World Cup]

By Odwa Magewebeba for Yenza

Xenophobia in South Africa

yenza — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 13:22:35 +0000

Ben Ilunga Muteba speaks about Xenophobia in South Africa and his experience living in this country as a Congolese man.

Media Copyright Yenza 2010.

The World Cup Salad Bowl

yenza — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 09:56:33 +0000

I came to South Africa 3 years ago to study. In South Africa, I have been amazed to see the racial barriers between Blacks and Whites and Coloureds.

I come from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I was raised in the capital city Kinshasa. There, one doesn’t see any differences between tribes except when people are angry or during elections. There is, however, segregation and tribalism in the provinces and I think the differences between tribes in DRC is often exploited as a political weapon to divide the country – this causes mistrust between Congolese people.

Even though there are tribal differences in my country, I have never experienced racial divides like I see in South Africa – maybe because my country has been governed by Congolese since 1960 – in 3 days, we will celebrate 50 years of Independence.

But in South Africa during the Soccer World Cup, in Cape Town, I have seen that South Africans of different races have moved beyond some of their racial barriers. Maybe it’s not too meaningful as it still seems there is a lot of mistrust between the White and Black South Africans. However, when I went to the fanfests which are areas where fans gather to watch the games on big screen TVs, I saw people from Germany, Japan, Congo, America, Uruguay, the Netherlands, Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwea, Tanzania, Uganda etc. – I saw them all in the same place – it was like a bowl for me – like a small stadium – where you meet different people from all places, from different societies. You couldn’t tell who was from where until you spoke to them. For example, when South Africa played Mexico in the opening game, most of the foreigners (besides the Mexicans) were wearing South Africa’s colors.

Fans at Cape Town's fanfest at the beginning of the World Cup. Photo by Brice Kimbembe for Yenza.

And while the majority of White South Africans usually seem to be more focused on rugby, it was my first time seeing a huge majority of White South Africans show such interest in a sport that has for a long time been a Black sport – the way Black South Africans supported the South African rugby during the Rugby World Cup when South Africa hosted and won the games in 1995 and in 2007 when South Africa’s Springboks again took the Rugby World Cup. During this 2010 FIFA World Cup, it has been amazing to see White South Africans put aside their daily conflicts to support South African soccer. I saw so many White South Africans supporting Bafana Bafana and even going through visible emotional moments when South Africa lost.

Everybody has been wonderful and nice to each other, and blowing vuvuzelas has helped the soccer fans from all over the world to communicate and express their feelings in one understandable happy language that has increased the sense of Ubuntu (community) in South Africa.

A Rugby Fan paints himself in support of South Africa's rugby and soccer teams during the FIFA World Cup. Photo by Brice Kimbembe for Yenza

People from different races and languages, from different background and religious beliefs, all have been mixed by the World Cup soccer games here. It is just like a salad bowl with all its ingredients that contribute their unique qualities to the mix in order to improve the final product, and yet, the original components retain their individuality while being bound together for a common enjoyment.

To me, having everyone there in that one space equals a good feeling – a unity – people who once upon a time could not share space can today, regardless of all the histories of animosity, come together to watch a game, and with no prejudice, no attitude, no arrogance but are instead laughing with one another, talking like friends to each other, trying to know more about each and even exploring their differences. To me, this means we can move towards a new society that we are all dreaming about. I wish that this could be the daily living situation – that would be a real pleasure for me. What an extremely beautiful feeling has the World Cup has brought to South Africa.

By Ben Ilunga Mutuba for Yenza (Copyright Yenza 2010)

Photos Copyright Yenza 2010.

The End of a World Cup Journey

yenza — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 10:22:45 +0000

A sad evening for Bafana Bafana soccer fans – or a unifying one? 13 Year old YENZA reporter Lindy Hlobo recorded fan reactions near Cape Town’s Greenpoint Stadium after South Africa defeated France but not by enough to advance to the next stage of the FIFA World Cup. She found that though fans were disappointed that their team’s World Cup journey had come to an end, they were buoyed by patriotic and African pride, unity amongst South Africans, hope and the legacy of Nelson Mandela.

(Media Copyright Yenza 2010)

Brazilian Soccer Fans Say Bravo to South Africa

yenza — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:47:02 +0000

Many soccer fans may have doubted their decision to come to South Africa to watch the FIFA World Cup. The Western media painted a picture of crime and inability. But fans who are here to see South Africa for themselves are finding something much better than they were told to expect. This includes fans of soccer’s number one team – who are finding the home city atmosphere is making them feel quite at home.

“I love the joy of the people here,” says Branco Brazil, a fan from São Paulo. “South Africans and Brazilians are the same: They love life. They love good music. We both love to braai (barbecue),” he said. Brazil also said South Africa and his country share a common culture dating back to the days of slavery.

Photo by Johan Samuels

The two countries -one the current and one the next host to the FIFA World Cup – also share the same team colors. The Brazil supporters, in their signature green and gold regalia, have transformed the area near Cape Town’s Green Point stadium into “Little Brazil.” A huge Brazil flag, along with a South African flag adorn the local town hall – which is now a hub for Brazil fans, though the large “Casa Little Brazil” banner in front came down as quickly as it went up to allow for other fan activities on non-Brazil gamedays. But inside, hundreds of Brazil fans packed the town hall on Sunday night to watch soccer, listen to music, drink….and of course to samba.

John Hassan a Brazilian who lives in Cape Town, with his resident band, the Hassan`adas, has been treating visitors from Brazil to Samba, kwasa-kwasa – a Congolese rhythmic dance – and other local rhythms that unite Africa and South America since the beginning of the World Cup tournament. “We want them to feel at home,” said Hassan about his fellow Brazilians, noting that Little Brazil is always so full of supporters when a Brazil game is on. He partnered with a DJ from Brazil to create a hometown feel a long way from home.

The carnival atmosphere exploded on Sunday night when the Brazil beat Ivory Coast, and the wild Brazil supporters celebrated their 3 – 1 victory.

Adega, a Portuguese restaurant on the opposite corner of the town hall is another hub where Brazil fans gather with their agogos (percussion bells that originated in West Africa) and tambourines to support their team.

Brazilian supporters, who expect to see Brazil in the finals, have described Cape Town as one of the most beautiful cities in the World.

Photo by Johan Samuels

“This city is very clean. It is very similar to Rio de Janeiro,” said another fan from São Paulo. “The Green Point Stadium is fantastic. When I go home I will tell my people to visit Cape Town. It’s different from Johannesburg.”

Marcia di Paula says she and her daughter Joelcia were happy to be in South Africa because “Africa is the motherland.”

Brazil, who was also in Germany in 2006 for the World Cup, said South Africa has so far staged a better tournament than Germany did. He said that most people around the world “did not know South Africa very well…South Africans are fantastic.”

“The music and the night clubs here are nice,” said John Carlos, who believes Brazil is going to be in the finals, but he is not as optimistic for South Africa’s chances in its last group match against France tomorrow.

Photo by Johan Samuels

Carlos said things were going to be difficult for Bafana-Bafana, but, he said “I hope they will get a chance because France is not good.”

Brazil’s new love for South Africa did not extend to the South African football team. He said Bafana-Bafana was not going to win tomorrow’s match “because you guys are good at rugby and not soccer.”

By Francis Hweshe for Yenza (Copyright text Yenza 2010)

Photo Copyright Johan Samuels

The World Cup Has Arrived (June 11, 2010)

yenza — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:42:34 +0000

This is a rare time for South Africa as everyone young, old and across the nation is united behind Bafana Bafana (South Africa). Vuvuzelas are blowing all over town – from Cape Town city center to Khayelitsha. The excitement is tangible – from little boys and girls running around in their little underwear screaming Bafana Bafana, to old men and women singing famous football chants. A couple of months ago, it all seemed impossible to the critics. Hope was the only thing left in the hearts and minds of South Africans. Until yesterday (10th June 2010) at the fanfest opening concert when we saw our favorite artists performing. The Cape Town streetlights were bright as ever. People sang and danced through the night. As the South African World Cup slogan goes “feel it , it’s here” , we as South Africans are really feeling it as the first World Cup going to be played on the African soil.

By Bongo Hlobo for Yenza (Copyright Yenza 2010)

Introductory Lesson to the Beautiful Game

yenza — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:48:24 +0000

A few days into the FIFA 2010 World Cup, and to me it already feels like it has been here forever. I don’t mean that in a bad way – just that the spirit, noises and excitement around the tournament have been building up for so long that a month from now when it’s all over I may even find it difficult to fall asleep without the distant buzzing of a vuvuzela in the back ground.
Despite all this elation, I find that some of the people most excited about the tournament seem to actually not know anything about it. Not to sound sexist, especially to my own gender, but I’m mostly talking about the ladies – the ones who make me wade through conversations about the vibe, or whether or not I like vuvuzelas , while I try to talk about which players might make the difference in a certain team or which teams may advance from the group stages. When I start game-talking, I am greeted by confused or blank looks. So, to to enhance your World Cup experience I will explain as simply as possible how it all works for those not in the know:

People line up to celebrate the night before the World Cup kicks off. Photo by Brice Kimbembe for Yenza.

LESSON ONE – THE GROUP STAGES
We are currently in the ‘Group’ stages. At this stage the 32 teams that qualified have been split into eight groups of four. The top seven ranked teams and the home team (South Africa) are each put into different groups. Also, countries from different continents are mostly put into different groups [For example one group is South Africa, Uruguay (South America,) Mexico (North America) and France (Europe)].

South African soccer fan. Photo by Siseko Mkita for Yenza.

Each team will play the other three teams in their group for points. They get three points for a win and one point for a draw, no points if they lose. After they have played all three of their games, the two highest ranked teams in the group move on to the next round – 16 teams will be left. If the teams have tied points, the goals scored in the games (difference of goals, number of goals etc.) will determine who is ranked higher. The goal formulas get more confusing if ties persist, but I’ll keep it simple here.
In the round of 16, the teams are paired up in knockout games. A team that qualified top of their group is given an advantage in that they will be paired up against a team that finished second in their group – the top half play the low half. There are no draws in this round though – extra time and penalty kicks will be used to make sure there is a winner. At the end of this stage there will be eight teams who will go through to the quarter- finals, who will then be narrowed down to four teams for the semis and then of course two for the Final.

Watching the Opening Match of the 2010 World Cup - South Africa versus Mexico - at a pub near Cape Town's stadium. Photo by Lindeka Qampi for Yenza

Got that? I hope this was helpful to you, feeding your thirst for more knowledge about the beautiful game – Until the next lesson…

By Mudiwa Mupotsa for Yenza. (Copyright Yenza 2010)

World Cup spirit in the neighborhood…

yenza — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:27:29 +0000

Cape Town City Center was blaring with sounds of vuvuzelas on Friday, as crowds of fans made their way to the ”fanfest” in the Grand Parade to watch the opening game of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup on big screens – with Bafana Bafana, the national South African team playing against Mexico in Johannesburg.

The area was full and closed by mid afternoon, and shouts and laughter echoed through downtown as fans overflowed into the streets. The Soccer World Cup party was finally getting started. But Cape Town’s City Bowl was not the only district buzzing with excitement. On the other side of the N2 highway in Khayelitsha, Cape Town’s biggest township, local South Africans were making their way to the fanfest at the Oliver Tambo center to watch the home team play.

Khayelitsha fanfest. Photo by Kenneth Sihlali for Yenza

The Khayelitsha fanpark has both an inside and outside venue, each with a giant screen. Fans poured indoors and filled up the large first-floor standing space and the second floor bleachers. Eventually people began filing outside to fill the standing space. Once capacity had been reached, disappointed fans were turned away. But rather than return back home and miss the excitement, the crowd gathered along the other side of the fence and spread into the parking lot.

The Khayelitsha fanfest is one of a few viewing areas for the game in the Cape Town surrounds for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Its large white structure stands over the rows of tiny tin shacks in the district. Arguably one of Cape Town’s poorest areas, there was concern during the planning of the World Cup that residents in outlying areas like Khayelitsha not have access to watching the games and enjoying the World Cup atmosphere. Unlike town, with its many pubs, clubs and restaurants that will be airing matches throughout the World Cup, Khayelitsha has few friendly venues for residents to gather and watch the games.

The fanfest provides a safe and enthusiastic environment for Khayelitsha’s residents, spreading the World Cup spirit far beyond the city: People poured in through the entrance gates decked out in bright colored wigs, mohawks, shades and national flags. Some had even weaved-in hair extensions sporting South Africa’s national colors. And, of course, nearly every other fan came armed with a vuvuzela in hand. Singing and dancing carried on throughout the match as young and old cheered side by side in support of Bafana Bafana. (South Africa) Spirits were high and an incredible sense of community and South African unity swelled among the crowd. And even when the power to the big screens went out for a number of minutes (not once, but twice!) during the match, it did not dampen the atmosphere. When Tshabalala scored South Africa’s only point, hands went up all over the fanpark and the cheers were piercing. Fans jumped up and down, hugging each other in celebration.

The final score of the match was a draw (South Africa 1, Mexico 1), but there was still much pride felt for Bafana Bafana. When asked where they were going to watch the remainder of the World Cup games, without hesitation many of the fans said they were going to return right back to the fanfest.
By Emily Westerlund for Yenza (Copyright Yenza 2010)