South Africa is once again grappling with a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment, with renewed protests and tensions in several communities reigniting concerns over xenophobia.
Images circulating online of foreign-owned businesses being targeted and migrants living in fear have sparked conversations across Africa about immigration, unemployment and human rights.
At the centre of the debate are calls by some groups for tougher action against undocumented immigrants. While governments have a legitimate responsibility to enforce immigration laws, human rights advocates warn that frustration over illegal immigration must never translate into violence or discrimination against people based on their nationality.
What is xenophobia?
Xenophobia refers to the fear, hatred or prejudice against people perceived to be foreigners. It often manifests through discrimination, verbal abuse, intimidation or physical violence directed at individuals simply because of where they come from.
South Africa has experienced several waves of xenophobic violence over the past two decades. Foreign nationals from countries including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Somalia, Ethiopia, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo have repeatedly found themselves caught in attacks that have claimed lives, displaced families and destroyed businesses.
Why is it happening again?
There is no single explanation for the renewed tensions. South Africa continues to face high unemployment, slow economic growth, poverty and widening inequality. These challenges have created frustration among many citizens who believe undocumented migrants are competing for scarce jobs, housing and business opportunities.
Some community organisations have intensified calls for stricter immigration enforcement, arguing that undocumented migration places additional pressure on already stretched public resources.
However, economists and migration experts caution against blaming migrants for complex economic problems. Studies have found that unemployment, crime and poor service delivery stem from multiple structural challenges rather than immigration alone. While governments have the right to regulate migration, collective punishment or violence against foreign nationals is both unlawful and harmful.
Immigration enforcement is not the same as xenophobia
The current debate highlights an important distinction.
Every sovereign nation has the authority to determine who enters its borders and to remove individuals who are found to be in the country unlawfully through established legal processes.
Xenophobia, however, occurs when individuals are threatened, attacked or discriminated against simply because they are believed to be foreigners, regardless of whether they are documented or not. Respect for the rule of law means allowing immigration authorities and the courts not angry crowds to determine immigration matters.
The wider impact
Xenophobic violence extends beyond those directly affected. It disrupts businesses, separates families, damages local economies and strains diplomatic relations between neighbouring countries.
Many migrants living in South Africa contribute to the country’s economy as entrepreneurs, skilled professionals and workers. At the same time, South Africa continues to host people who have fled conflict, political instability or economic hardship elsewhere on the continent.
The challenge facing governments is finding a balance between maintaining secure borders, enforcing immigration laws fairly and protecting the dignity and safety of every person within their borders.
An African conversation
The events unfolding in South Africa have resonated across the continent because migration is an African reality. Millions of Africans live, work, study and build families outside their countries of birth. Likewise, many South Africans have sought opportunities abroad over the years.
The conversation should therefore move beyond blame and focus on practical solutions: improving border management, strengthening legal migration systems, creating employment opportunities, tackling corruption and addressing the economic inequalities that often fuel social tensions.
Ultimately, immigration policy can be debated, and laws can be enforced. But violence, intimidation and hatred should never become substitutes for justice. Lasting solutions will require cooperation, accountability and a shared commitment to protecting human dignity while addressing the genuine concerns of citizens.
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