Students’ Attitudes and Perceptions on Xenophobia: A Study of a University in Durban

Abstract

The recurrence of xenophobic violence in South Africa has been attributed to the proliferation of antimigrant sentiments that stems from social, political, economic and cultural misconceptions and cleavages. The study presents the results of a survey undertaken at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) to investigate the perceptions and attitudes of DUT students on xenophobia in South Africa. A questionnaire was designed and employed to collect data from 547 registered students of a university in Durban. The result reflects the existence of satisfactory awareness on xenophobia and low levels of anti-migrant sentiments which show that the majority of the students are not xenophobic. Traces of xenophobic perceptions and attitudes were observed in the responses of entry-level students from low-income areas, thus pointing to entry-level students and younger students as being more disposed to xenophobic tendencies. This trend echoes normative conceptions concerning xenophobia in South Africa, particularly, as a phenomenon deeply ingrained in socioeconomic inadequacies. However, the positive disposition of most students towards xenophobia reaffirms the importance of educational institutions in intercepting negative ethnic/racial sentiments as well as calls for intensified integration programmes and the extension of such into the communities.

Students’ perceptions of the influence of media on perpetuating xenophobia in South African universities

“…However, after the researcher probed more on this question, one of the participants hinted that this behaviour may be there even though it is suppressed by the students. This is synonymous with the findings by Akande et al 18 from their study conducted on students' attitudes and perceptions of xenophobia at a university in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, because they found that despite the majority of students showing nonxenophobic perceptions, traces of xenophobic attitudes and perceptions were observed from some of the students. Moreover, similar findings emerged from a similar study 27 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where findings showed evidence of students perpetrating verbal xenophobic attacks on other African students.…”

“…Other researchers like 15,18 and McDonald and Jacobs 16 have researched the print media's contribution to xenophobic violence in South Africa. Therefore, it was of interest in this article to also examine students' views on the influence of the media on xenophobic behaviour.…”

“…15 Even though not many studies have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that print media's language has led to xenophobic violence, some researchers and media critics hold that print media's adoption of generalised stereotypes of people from other African countries and the labelling and use of derogative names foster xenophobic discourse. 15,16,17,18 Furthermore, it has been argued that in South Africa, newspapers are passively consumed and help shape reality for readers. 17 Thus, many people in South Africa have relied heavily on print media as a source of news.…”

“…For instance, in many cases, Nigerian migrants have been classified as drug dealers and smugglers, Zimbabweans as predominantly illegal immigrants and Somalis and Ethiopians as sellers of expired food and products. 15,18 Other derogatory names have been used by print media to frame foreign nationals, besides 'aliens' and 'illegal immigrants' including amakwerekwere, amagrigamba, 'my friend' and so on. To supplement this view, the article borrows from Mgogo and Osunkunle, 15 where some of the newspaper headlines with these derogative names are evident:…”

“…This points to negative reportage of xenophobia-related violence by the South African print media while compromising the print media's potential for impartial reportage of xenophobia through constructive news coverage. 18 Furthermore, the authors note that it is this representation in media that perpetuates power differences between South African residents and foreign nationals through normalising derogatory reporting. Thus, symbolic xenophobic violence is perpetuated, which could potentially lead to actual violence.…”