by Jason Beaubien
Anti-apartheid hero [Nelson Mandela] has been a unifying force in South Africa, particularly for the ruling African National Congress. There's concern, however, that xenophobia, racism and political infighting may grow once the "father of the nation" dies. ...
"When
Mandela dies, watch out, xenophobia is going to come up again," [Brian
Raphela] says. Migrants in the country say they too worry that xenophobia
will again rear its head after Mandela dies. In 2008, attacks across South
Africa left dozens of migrants dead and hundreds injured. Earlier this year,
there were more assaults on immigrants. ...
It's clear
that South Africa right now is facing daunting social and economic challenges.
There's the growing gap between the rich and the poor, and there have been
divisive calls by some black groups to exclude South Africans of Indian descent
from affirmative action programs. ...
The ANC
government has launched huge projects to deliver clean water and electricity to
the poorest of the poor. [Ahmed] Kathrada notes that racial integration has
occurred at many schools, and blacks now have significant stakes in most South
African businesses. Kathrada also notes the ANC had the daunting task of
guiding South Africa from white minority rule to a multiracial democracy. ...
Despite the
calls for more rapid change, Kathrada says the country has done a reasonably
good job of making that transition. He's confident that even after Mandela
dies, the vision of Mandela and the anti-apartheid movement for a more just,
democratic South Africa will endure.
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