South Africa: five things to know about anti-immigrant protests
via SeneNews7 min read
South Africa is experiencing heightened tensions due to anti-immigrant protests organized by various citizen groups. These movements have already led to thousands of immigrants returning to their home countries. The protests are driven by a mix of anti-immigrant groups and political parties, with participants often wearing traditional Zulu attire. They accuse undocumented immigrants of taking jobs from South Africans amid a 33% unemployment rate and contributing to rising crime. However, a 2018 World Bank study indicated that each immigrant worker created approximately two jobs for South Africans between 1996 and 2011, primarily through entrepreneurship and local economic spending. Social media campaigns, some containing misinformation, and extensive live television coverage have amplified these sentiments. Politologist Sandile Swana notes this as a new form of black-on-black violence, diverting attention from the real causes of the economic crisis. This current wave differs from previous xenophobic violence, such as the 2008 riots that killed 62 people, and subsequent outbreaks in 2015, 2016, and 2019. Analysts, including Professor William Gumede from the University of the Witwatersrand, highlight that the current campaign is more structured and that xenophobic rhetoric is now more widely accepted beyond marginal groups. The violence has resulted in police investigations into the murders of two Mozambican nationals, an Ethiopian, and a Malawian. Mozambican authorities report
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