the black snapper

True to form and the stereotypes that are at times sadly true, Africa continues to be plagued by ethnic wars, tribal superiority and xenophobia. The latter unleashed itself in South Africa, where many African nationals have fled to, seeking respite from the harsh realities of their countries.

South Africa is seen as a flicker of hope for these communities and sadly the promise of hope faded. As the violence broke in May 2008, with the locals attacking foreign nationals in many parts of the country, I decided to focus on the Somali community. There is a border post, Beit Bridge, that serves as a point of entry and exit for many African nationals into and out of South Africa. It’s at this border that I first came across their story.

A group of young men were lying on the pavement, battered by thirst, heat and hunger. They told me they fled Somalia and that most of their journey had been by foot, apart from sneaking into trucks here and there,  they walked for weeks trying to reach South Africa, the promised land.

Ironically for many, promised land it was not to be. When the violence broke out the Somalis where moved to a shelter in Pretoria North, just outside the capital city of South Africa. The idea was for them to stay there until the situation had eased and then they would be moved back by the South African government into the communities from which they fled.

Many of them felt betrayed by fellow Africans and wanted to be moved to another country by the UN, others wanted to turn this shelter into a permanent home.

The government took the shelter apart, leaving the people with no where else to go. A huge number of them have found “homes” in derelict buildings in downtown Johannesburg. Others continue moving from country to country, across continents even in search of a “home”. The violence has left a deep sense of betrayal along with psychological and physical scars.