South Africa's streets have become battlegrounds for a dark and disturbing ideology: the notion that foreign nationals are usurping opportunities at home. At least four people have lost their lives in the past few weeks as anti-immigrant sentiment has spiralled out of control, forcing thousands to flee their homes in terror. Governments from Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe have already facilitated the return of tens of thousands of their citizens, a grim testament to the scale of the crisis unfolding in a nation once hailed as a beacon of hope for Africa.
While xenophobic violence has marred South African history since 2008, with over 700 fatalities recorded since apartheid ended in 1994, this latest surge is distinct. According to Fezokuhle Mthonti, a cultural historian based in Johannesburg, this period marks a 'new moment' in post-apartheid xenophobia, driven by factors that set it apart from previous outbreaks. Unlike before, the current campaign is reportedly well-funded and has gained legitimacy through mainstream media coverage, with some interpretations suggesting President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent meetings with protest leaders as tacit recognition.
The root causes of this movement are complex, Mthonti suggests, stemming from a fragile national identity among Black South Africans. Despite gaining citizenship in 1994, many have yet to experience the promised post-apartheid transformation, particularly those in poverty and rural areas. This perceived precarity of citizenship, exacerbated by global economic crises, has contributed to a turn towards conservative values and scapegoating politics – a phenomenon observed globally but intensified by South Africa's unique historical context and contemporary political shortcomings.
Mthonti views the campaign as a symptom of the broader victimisation of poor working classes, who feel abandoned by the state. With essential services and economic security in short supply, communities are left to fend for themselves, creating an environment where both locals and migrants can be pitted against each other through 'us versus them' narratives. The irony, Mthonti notes, is that South Africa's economic foundations were built on the labour of those who migrated or were forcibly moved.
The legacy of apartheid, colonialism, and slavery continues to haunt South Africa, a nation still grappling with its tumultuous past. Mthonti stresses that the country is 'deeply marred by three systems of violence', which intersect in complex ways, perpetuating cycles of oppression and retribution that threaten to engulf the very fabric of society.