When the economy heads south, the first targets are foreigners, who are blamed for job losses, crime and an assortment of other societal challenges that locals can rattle off. In 2012, Nigerians cried xenophobia when Ghanaians closed their businesses in that country amid claims that they took jobs from locals.In Libya, black Africans have come under attack from locals who accuse them of flooding their cities with cheap goods.Things became worse when the West imposed sanctions on the Gaddafi regime and the economy took a dive. African migrants were the first to be targeted and driven out of the country.Today South Africa finds itself in the same space. The poor are fighting for economic space and the situation is getting worse as the economy falters.Although there can be no excuse for the violence meted out against foreigners the tension on our streets should be viewed holistically.South Africa needs to look at how other countries are managing economic migrants.The sporadic xenophobic incidents here are happening far too often.Statements by elected leaders fail to address the real causes of xenophobia.Why are these xenophobic incidents happening in areas that are mostly poor? Why are only Africans targeted?The answer lies in the economic mess the poor find themselves in. The scramble for resources and the naked class divide lies at the root of what we see today.Immigrants who live in affluent suburbs and who can afford decent housing rarely become targets of xenophobia.King Goodwill Zwelithini, who has been accused of sparking the xenophobic outbreak through a reckless comment, holds the key today. The pattern these attacks have taken suggests that his leadership is more urgent than that of other politicians.President Jacob Zuma and his ministers must come up with real solutions and stop their egg dance...