Xenophobia
Xenophobia is the fear, prejudice or hostility directed towards people perceived as foreign or from outside one's own community, nation or cultural group. It manifests in discriminatory attitudes, exclusionary practices and, in severe cases, violence against individuals or groups identified as outsiders based on nationality, ethnicity, language or other markers of difference. The phenomenon is distinct from racism, though the two often intersect, as xenophobia focuses primarily on perceived foreignness rather than race alone. In economic contexts, xenophobic sentiment frequently intensifies during periods of resource scarcity, high unemployment or social instability, when foreign nationals may be scapegoated for domestic challenges. South Africa has experienced recurring waves of xenophobic violence, particularly targeting migrants from other African countries, with notable outbreaks in 2008, 2015 and 2019 resulting in deaths, displacement and destruction of property. The attacks have typically concentrated in urban informal settlements and townships, where competition for jobs, housing and services is most acute. Xenophobia carries significant economic costs, damaging investor confidence, disrupting cross-border trade, harming regional integration efforts and undermining the contributions that migrant workers and entrepreneurs make to host economies. Governments, civil society organisations and international bodies work to address xenophobia through public education, legal protections for foreign nationals, community dialogue programmes and enforcement measures against hate crimes. The issue remains a persistent challenge in many countries worldwide, requiring sustained policy attention to promote social cohesion and protect vulnerable migrant populations.
Xenophobia Updates
SA’s anti-immigration movement raises the stakes on social media
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 24th July 2026 Vigilante videos, AI-generated content and Mandela-linked framing are fuelling millions of mentions and xenophobic sentiment. With weekly... →
South Africans deserve answers on who advises Home Affairs on immigration and who is holding government accountable
23rd July 2026 I have said it before, and I will say it again: “I don’t have a plan for Africa, I have a plan for South Africa.” This statement has never been... →
Ghana delays South Africa meetings over anti-migrant violence
By: Reuters 8th July 2026 Ghana has postponed bilateral meetings with South Africa that were planned for next month because of a surge in anti-migrant violence in the... →
Why is a PIC staffer publicly supporting March on March?
7th July 2026 It is deeply problematic that a PIC investment associate appears in an AmaBhungane story, also published in News24 and Daily Maverick, supporting... →
Nigeria says two citizens killed as anti-migrant violence surged in South Africa 
By: Reuters 6th July 2026 Nigeria said two of its citizens were killed in South Africa, one of them by police, during a surge in anti-migrant violence, and threatened to... →
The calm after Tuesday: South Africa’s window to rebuild confidence in its immigration system
3rd July 2026 Tuesday, 30 June 2026, was a day that the country approached with apprehension. Understandably so. With memories of the July 2021 unrest still... →
Populist omen
By: Terence Creamer 3rd July 2026 South Africa is approaching the fifth anniversary of the deadly July 2021 riots and looting in an atmosphere that is again heavily laden with the... →
Scared but staying: Some migrants dig in as South Africa turns hostile
By: Reuters 2nd July 2026 Ethiopian refugee Helana Wolde locked his home and watched on television as thousands of angry demonstrators marched through South Africa this week... →
Lucrative online influence detected during South Africa’s 30 June protests
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 2nd July 2026 The impact of South Africa’s 30 June anti-immigration protests was doubtlessly terrifying for many foreign nationals. Yet the unofficial deadline... →
SA hits back at Ghana’s ‘xenophobic’ claims following fatal Cape Town shooting
By: Thabi Shomolekae 2nd July 2026 Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi, has strongly criticised the Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs over... →
