Commentariat Index (CI) - 200508

The biggest story out of Africa his week has to be the xenophobia raging down in South Africa.
Justice Malala, one of South Africa's leading commentators opened his piece in yesterday's Times of South Africa with the following words:

"President Thabo Mbeki and his ANC successor Jacob Zuma were refugees in London, Zambia, Nigeria, Swaziland and Mozambique, among other places, between 1962 and 1990.
I mention this for those of my countrymen and women who have short memories. We should be ashamed that it is us who are today raping, looting and killing foreigners apparently because they “steal” our houses and “our women”."

The rest of his column is here

The highly regarded Charlene Smith weighs in with a revelation that the source of the violence against foreigners can be traced to the upper echelons of South African society.

"The attacks on foreigners have brought shame to our nation. And again, it is the result of not acknowledging a problem, as well as one of xenophobia within the cabinet. A senior member of cabinet told me shortly after returning from exile, “we must never allow Nigerians into our country, they are criminals.” Another privately referred to the dignified wife of one of our most revered statesmen as a “kwerekwere” — disparaging slang for a foreigner"

Christi van der Westhuizen goes for the jugular: Listen to her

"This is us. No miracle nation. No rainbow nation. Just us: violent; intolerant of difference — hitting where it hurts. Let’s not try to sweet-talk ourselves. This is who we are. Let’s look ourselves in the eye."

Some of the heavyweights of the Nigerian Commentariat are out in full voice today. Though not about the events in South Africa. They rather focus on issues closer to home:

Pat Utomi (The Guardian): Nigeria's public space and reason embattled

Tunji Bello (Thisday): Power Probe: The Obasanjo Defence – An Appraisal

Azu Ishiekwene (The Punch): The shocking truth about power

Olatunji Dare (The Nation): Ogbulafor: Only 60 years?