This study’s focus on the xenophobic violence in South Africa is topical, mostly concentrating on the economic competition between foreign nationals and local people as a root cause. Whilst the South African government’s record of poor governance has led to a high crime rate, poor service delivery, corruption and poorly implemented and enforced legislations have been overlooked and disassociated with xenophobia. The current study explores other forces that have triggered the xenophobic violence in South Africa in 2015 with a clear focus on the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The study aims to ascertain some of the causes and dimensions of the xenophobic violence and the government’s inability to detect and respond to such a catastrophe in KwaZulu-Natal. The research methodology chosen was interpretivism, utilising qualitative in-depth interviews. Seventeen informants, comprised of community activists, non-governmental organisations and government officials, including the South African Police Service, were interviewed. Four major themes that triggered and influenced xenophobia emerged in this study. Firstly, there is economic competition amongst foreign nationals who use local gangs to attack their competitors, as well as competition between foreigners and local business owners. Secondly, the study established an association between xenophobia and criminal business, where both victims and perpetrators compete over turf and skills in committing crimes. Thirdly, the study noted the inability of the state to employ risk-reduction to prevent and mitigate the impacts of xenophobia. Fourthly, the state apparatus’s failed to detect, prevent or mitigate the impact and respond timeously. A number of themes and issues untouched in previous research surfaced. This study necessitates the need for municipalities to develop or review by-laws on economic development in the townships and in the informal settlements by regulating informal businesses. The research study will further encourage the government to apply effective, efficient and appropriate crime-intelligence strategies that can detect or combat any sign of xenophobia in all sectors of society. The study will contribute to the conceptual and theoretical empirical developments and realities regarding the issues, as well as the policy, as most studies published on xenophobic violence have concentrated on the economic dimension, to the exclusion of other underlying causes.

中文翻译：

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夸祖鲁-纳塔尔乡的仇外暴力和犯罪

这项研究的重点是南非的仇外暴力，主要集中在外国国民与当地人之间的经济竞争中。南非政府治理不善的记录导致犯罪率很高，但人们却忽视了仇外心理，将服务质量差，腐败以及立法不力和执法不力忽视了。当前的研究探索了在2015年引发南非仇外暴力的其他力量，并将重点明确放在了夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省。该研究旨在确定仇外暴力的一些原因和规模，以及政府无力发现和应对夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省的此类灾难。选择的研究方法是诠释主义，利用定性深入访谈。采访了包括社区活动家，非政府组织和政府官员在内的十七名线人，其中包括南非警察局。在这项研究中出现了引发和影响仇外心理的四个主要主题。首先，使用本地帮派攻击竞争对手的外国国民之间存在经济竞争，以及外国人与当地企业主之间的竞争。其次，该研究建立了仇外心理与犯罪行为之间的联系，受害者和犯罪者都在争夺地盘和技巧方面竞争。第三，研究指出，国家无力采取降低风险的措施来预防和减轻仇外心理的影响。第四，状态设备未能检测，防止或减轻影响并及时做出响应。先前研究中未涉及的许多主题和问题浮出水面。这项研究需要市政当局通过规范非正规企业来制定或审查有关乡镇和非正规住区经济发展的法规。该研究将进一步鼓励政府采取有效，高效和适当的犯罪情报策略，以发现或打击社会各阶层仇外心理的任何迹象。这项研究将为有关问题以及政策的概念和理论上的经验发展和现实作出贡献，因为大多数关于仇外暴力的研究都集中在经济方面，而排除了其他潜在原因。这项研究需要市政当局通过规范非正规企业来制定或审查有关乡镇和非正规住区经济发展的法规。该研究将进一步鼓励政府采取有效，高效和适当的犯罪情报策略，以发现或打击社会各阶层仇外心理的任何迹象。这项研究将为有关问题以及政策的概念和理论上的经验发展和现实作出贡献，因为大多数关于仇外暴力的研究都集中在经济方面，而排除了其他潜在原因。这项研究需要市政当局通过规范非正规企业来制定或审查有关乡镇和非正规住区经济发展的法规。该研究将进一步鼓励政府采取有效，高效和适当的犯罪情报策略，以发现或打击社会各阶层仇外心理的任何迹象。这项研究将为有关问题以及政策的概念和理论上的经验发展和现实作出贡献，因为大多数关于仇外暴力的研究都集中在经济方面，而排除了其他潜在原因。该研究将进一步鼓励政府采取有效，高效和适当的犯罪情报策略，以发现或打击社会各阶层仇外心理的任何迹象。这项研究将为有关问题以及政策的概念和理论上的经验发展和现实作出贡献，因为大多数关于仇外暴力的研究都集中在经济方面，而排除了其他潜在原因。该研究将进一步鼓励政府采取有效，高效和适当的犯罪情报策略，以发现或打击社会各阶层仇外心理的任何迹象。这项研究将为有关问题以及政策的概念和理论上的经验发展和现实作出贡献，因为大多数关于仇外暴力的研究都集中在经济方面，而排除了其他潜在原因。