ABSTRACT
Recent attacks against migrant workers from neighboring countries in Africa by South Africans, as well as the ongoing violence against women, have galvanized a number of organizations to both immediately protest against the attacks, but also discuss how to disrupt hateful populism and draw connections between various struggles. This chapter describes and examines the sources of xenophobia and gender-based violence and argues that these are connected to the frustration and increased inequality in South African society as a result of 25 years of neoliberalism and the legacy of apartheid. Our chapter will look at the responses of various social movements (including student, worker and women’s organizations) to educate their members and society by showing the interconnections between xenophobia, gender-based violence, climate change and neoliberalism. We examine how activists through their actions and praxis are interrupting authoritarian and reactionary populism and grappling with ways to intervene and interrupt injustices using critical pedagogy and solidarity exemplified by the traditional slogan of the anti-apartheid movement “an injury to one is an injury to all.” Finally, we situate this chapter by historically examining the class nature of the state and how it has promoted and created divisions in society and exacerbated inequality. While part of a global phenomenon of manufacturing hate, we also examine the peculiarities of this trend as it is expressed in South Africa.
