Robust police response advised amid Mossel Bay’s xenophobic tensions

Update

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - As the tensions in KwaNonqaba, Mossel Bay, continue to be terse, a senior researcher has called for a “robust and consistent response” from law enforcement to prevent xenophobic violence from further escalating.

Dr Steven Gordon, a senior research specialist in the Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES) research division at the Human Sciences Research Council, told Mossel Bay Advertiser firm policing is critical in situations of unrest, and warned that violence can spread when perpetrators believe there is weak enforcement of it or limited consequences.

He says the police must prioritise protecting victims and arresting those responsible for the attacks. “A robust response from law enforcement is often the best way to signal that xenophobic violence is wrong,” Gordon said.

His comments come as Mossel Bay experienced unrest in KwaNonqaba and Asla Park in recent days, with foreign nationals reportedly displaced and their properties damaged.

Gordon says xenophobic violence is often misunderstood as a phenomenon confined to large cities, saying that smaller towns frequently experience similar incidents that are less visible and often take the form of intimidation, vandalism and individual attacks rather than large-scale riots.

“The absence of rioting doesn’t mean it’s not taking place,” he said.

Dr Steven Gordon

Gordon also pointed to South Africa’s National Action Plan to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, which has been in place since 2019, saying the continued recurrence of violence raises questions about its effectiveness.

“If that strategy was working, we wouldn’t be having this problem,” he said.

He said beyond policing, long-term solutions must include efforts to better integrate foreign nationals into local communities through social and economic inclusion.

These include encouraging participation in community organisations, schools, churches and local events, as well as providing language and orientation support to strengthen cohesion.

Gordon said that while such ‘soft interventions’ are often overlooked, they are essential in preventing future violence and reducing tensions between communities over time.

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