South Africa's ongoing xenophobic violence against African immigrants has become a wider continental problem, fueled by economic grievances and political scapegoating. Despite evidence challenging claims that migrants are responsible for jobs, crime, and pressure on public services, the violence persists. According to Xenowatch, about 50 people have been killed in xenophobic-related incidents in South Africa over the past three years. The violence has resulted in displaced and wounded individuals, hundreds forcibly repatriated, and destroyed businesses.
The xenophobic outbursts in South Africa began in 1994, the year Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the country's first black president. The attacks were initially construed as part of the negative offshoots of the prolonged apartheid rule, but they have continued to recur. After localized incidents in Alexandra Township in 1994, the first significant blowout happened in 2008. Since then, xenophobia has acquired a life of its own, with sustained cycles of recurrence until the present.
Local grievances, such as unemployment and perceived chaos in neighborhoods, sometimes feed the xenophobic demons. In a recent letter, Ferial Haffajee, a prominent South African editor, wrote about how her childhood neighborhood, Mayfair, has changed into a precinct of chaos with immigrants who bribe city planners, turning every street corner into a commercial jungle. With an unemployment rate of 33.6%, politicians have mobilized sentiment against immigrants, blaming them for "taking the jobs," putting pressure on healthcare and other services, and contributing to crime.
However, the truth is far more nuanced than politicians are willing to admit. UN figures estimate that of the 304 million international migrants worldwide, South Africa had about 2.63 million immigrants as of mid-2024. The bulk of immigrants in South Africa were born in the SADC region, while about 25% are from the rest of Africa. Of this non-SADC immigrant population, only about 1%, or 24,718, are Nigerians.
The trope about job hijacking needs to be stripped of its false covering. Black South Africans control the state and constitute most workers and consumers, but white South Africans remain disproportionately influential in private-sector ownership, wealth, and senior corporate management. Employment equity data from 2024 showed that white employees held 61.1% of top management posts, Africans held 18%, Indians held 11.9%, colored people held 6.2%, and other foreign nationals held 2.8%.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, one of the most documented beneficiaries of the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) program, has been disappointing in his response to the xenophobic attacks. However, it would be unfair to accuse him of stoking the deadly violence. Ramaphosa's reluctance to take a tough stand may be due to his comfort with the BEE program, which has benefited him and other prominent figures such as Patrice Motsepe and Tokyo Sexwale.
The African Union (AU) has been criticized for its helplessness in addressing the xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Nigeria's President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reported South Africa to the AU in January 2027, but the move has been seen as ineffective. African leaders have been called upon to take a stronger stance against xenophobia, with Nigeria's former President Olusegun Obasanjo stating that African leaders have not done enough to stop the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Key points
- South Africa's xenophobic violence has resulted in about 50 deaths and hundreds of displaced individuals over the past three years.
- The country's unemployment rate stands at 33.6%, fueling sentiment against immigrants.
- The African Union has been criticized for its ineffective response to the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
