Xenophobic - South Africa?

[xoggoth]

The term scapegoat suggests these people are being blamed for problems not of their making.

I cannot say I have looked into it, but the idea that very large numbers of unemployed and destitute people can pour into a country and NOT cause significant problems for an already poor indigenous population sounds a little far fetched.

[Marina]

President Thabo Mbeki said he would set up a panel of experts to investigate the violence.

Isn't he one of the main culprits in discouraging any intervention or even criticism by African leaders against Robert Mugabe over the last few years? And it's largely his megalomania and arrogant idiocy that's caused the refugee crisis in SA. Talk about chickens coming home to roost.

P.S. I've never heard even the saintly Nelson Mandela mention Zimbabwe. Seems like the kind of thing the press would report if he had.

[sunnysan]

Effective Policing

Well it appears that effective policing might sort it out

http://www.mg.co.za/ContentImages/339611/police.jpg

[oracleslave]

And it's largely his megalomania and arrogant idiocy that's caused the refugee crisis in SA. Talk about chickens coming home to roost.

Gee I must have missed the bit where Mbeki "caused the refugee crisis in SA" How exactly did he do that?

Mbeki may be an idealist and out of touch. A megalomaniac he is not.

[OwlHoot]

Gee I must have missed the bit where Mbeki "caused the refugee crisis in SA" How exactly did he do that?

Mbeki may be an idealist and out of touch. A megalomaniac he is not.

I think Marina meant Mugabe was the megalomaniac.

[Troll]

Link I was going to say that It would appear to be be working as a policy, but some may see that as insensitive

[EternalOptimist]

Link I was going to say that It would appear to be be working as a policy, but some may see that as insensitive

You carry on mate. The world is a tough old place and no amount of Political correctness will change that

[xoggoth]

I would agree that Mbeki's failure to take the lead in any effective action against Mugabe was a lot to do with it. The damage, in terms of the way this affects worldwide attitudes to Africa and probably to blacks generally, goes much wider than that.

[BrilloPad]

So... who's planning to visit for the 2010 Football World Cup?

[oracleslave]

I would agree that Mbeki's failure to take the lead in any effective action against Mugabe was a lot to do with it. The damage, in terms of the way this affects worldwide attitudes to Africa and probably to blacks generally, goes much wider than that.

Can't fault your post. Only mitigation I can think of is Mbeki obviously finds it difficult to criticise/take action against someone that played an active supporting/financial role in helping him during his time in exile.