Lynx Entertainment boss, Richie Mensah has shared his view that xenophobic tensions in South Africa are linked to the way some people have been influenced to view other Africans.
Speaking on his podcast, Richie said some South Africans have come to see other Africans living in the country as competitors rather than fellow Africans.
“Look at xenophobia, where South Africans have grown to feel that other black Africans are their enemy,” he said.
He argued that the situation should not only be viewed as individuals deciding to reject other Africans but as something influenced by broader factors.
“Don’t think this happened by accident. We should not also blame the South Africans and think that they just woke up and started thinking like this,” Richie said.
According to him, some people were encouraged to believe that migrants were responsible for taking away opportunities.
“They were given a common enemy. They were taught systematically that don’t allow these people to come and take your opportunities,” he said.
Richie said the result has been further separation between African countries.
“Now they are pushing somebody else’s agenda, which is now separating them completely from Africa,” he added.
