The recurring xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa, especially fellow Africans, remain one of the greatest moral and political contradictions on the continent.
For a country whose liberation struggle benefited immensely from African solidarity, the persistent hostility toward Africans living and working within its borders is both tragic and shameful.
The ugly scenes of mob violence, looting, intimidation and killings that have repeatedly emerged from South Africa expose a dangerous failure of leadership, social cohesion and continental consciousness.
Nothing justifies the brutal attacks on defenceless people simply because they are foreigners. The disturbing videos of women being harassed, beaten and humiliated during some of these attacks are particularly horrifying. The language of hatred, the crude stereotypes and the mob violence directed at Nigerians and other African nationals reveal a deeply troubling social attitude that cannot continue to be ignored or excused.
South Africans who participate in xenophobic violence often claim that foreigners are responsible for unemployment, poverty, crime and the shrinking economic opportunities in the country. Nigerians, Zimbabweans, Ghanaians, Somalis, Ethiopians and others are frequently accused of “taking jobs” and “taking women.” These claims are simplistic, dangerous and fundamentally dishonest. They ignore the deeper structural failures of governance, corruption, economic inequality and poor public policy that continue to plague South Africa decades after the end of apartheid.
Foreigners did not create South Africa’s unemployment crisis. They did not invent inequality in one of the world’s most unequal societies. Nor did they design the economic system that still leaves millions of black South Africans trapped in poverty. Blaming immigrants for these longstanding problems is merely an emotional diversion from the real issues.
Indeed, many immigrants survive in South Africa through sheer resilience and entrepreneurship. Nigerians and other Africans often venture into small businesses and sectors that many locals are unwilling to explore. They create opportunities for themselves through hard work, risk-taking and enterprise. Instead of recognising this entrepreneurial spirit as an economic asset, some South Africans view it with envy and suspicion. Success by foreigners is interpreted as exploitation rather than industry. This mindset is dangerous for any society seeking economic growth and regional integration.
That said, it would be dishonest to pretend that every foreign national in South Africa behaves responsibly. Some foreigners have undoubtedly violated local laws and engaged in activities that could provoke public resentment. Nigerians must understand that living abroad demands respect for the laws, customs and sensitivities of host countries. Actions perceived as attempts to establish parallel authority structures, such as controversial reports of coronating traditional rulers in foreign territories, can inflame tensions and deepen suspicion.
However, no level of provocation can justify jungle justice. No citizen has the right to become prosecutor, judge and executioner. Civilised societies rely on law enforcement institutions and judicial processes, not violent mobs. Illegal migration, criminality or misconduct by foreigners should be addressed through established legal and immigration procedures, not through killings, looting and ethnic profiling.
This is where the South African government has failed repeatedly. President Cyril Ramaphosa and his administration have too often responded too slowly, too weakly and too cautiously to these outbreaks of violence. Silence from leadership during moments of national tension can easily be interpreted as complicity or indifference. South African authorities have a constitutional and moral duty to protect every lawful resident within their borders, regardless of nationality.
One troubling question keeps resurfacing whenever xenophobic violence erupts: Where are the police? How do mobs gather openly, attack businesses, assault people and sometimes kill innocent residents without immediate intervention from security agencies? The inability or unwillingness of law enforcement authorities to decisively halt these attacks damages South Africa’s international reputation and raises serious concerns about state capacity and commitment.
Those responsible for xenophobic violence must be identified, prosecuted and punished according to the law. Without consequences, mob attacks become normalised. The absence of accountability only emboldens future attackers. South Africa cannot claim to uphold constitutional democracy while tolerating repeated episodes of lawlessness against vulnerable populations.
The hypocrisy surrounding South Africa’s international posture is equally difficult to ignore. The same country that approached the International Court of Justice over allegations of genocide in Gaza appears unwilling to confront the cruelty occurring within its own borders. A nation that speaks loudly about human rights abroad must show equal commitment to protecting human dignity at home. Moral authority in international affairs begins with internal consistency.
Sadly, xenophobia is not unique to South Africa. Across the world, globalisation has intensified migration, competition and anxiety. Many societies increasingly distrust foreigners, especially when immigrants appear economically successful. From Europe to North America and parts of Asia, anti-immigrant sentiments have become politically potent. Economic hardship often fuels resentment against outsiders.
That said, it is important to state that the Nigerian government deserves some credit for evacuating stranded Nigerians during previous waves of violence. Such actions send an important message that the state values the lives and welfare of its citizens. The summoning of the South African envoy in Abuja was also appropriate. Diplomatic protests are necessary in moments like these.
However, the Nigerian government must also admit that it often reacts too little and too late whenever Nigerians abroad are endangered. Protecting citizens beyond national borders should be a core responsibility of every serious government. Nigeria’s foreign policy under the current administration must become clearer, firmer and more citizen-focused. Abuja cannot continue issuing routine condemnations without developing stronger diplomatic and legal responses to repeated abuses against Nigerians overseas.
At the same time, Nigeria must confront an uncomfortable truth: the mass exodus of Nigerians is itself a symptom of failure at home. Citizens leave in large numbers due to unemployment, insecurity, poor infrastructure, economic instability, and weak governance. If Nigeria offered sufficient opportunities, reliable public services and a more secure environment, many Nigerians would not feel compelled to seek survival elsewhere.
In many ways, the humiliation Nigerians suffer abroad reflects the failure of leadership at home. A strong economy commands respect. A dysfunctional society exports desperation.
The more economically vulnerable Nigerians become, the more exposed they are to exploitation, discrimination and hostility overseas. Fixing Nigeria is therefore not merely a domestic necessity; it is also a diplomatic imperative.
As a continent, Africa’s history of colonialism, slavery, displacement and liberation struggles should inspire solidarity rather than hatred. Africans once depended on one another for survival against racist oppression and imperial domination. It is therefore painful that Africans are now turning violently against fellow Africans in pursuit of narrow frustrations and misguided nationalism.
This is also where the African Union has disappointed many observers. The AU and regional bodies have largely responded with cautious statements rather than firm continental engagement. Some member states avoid stronger action because they fear accusations of interfering in South Africa’s sovereignty. Yet silence in the face of repeated violence undermines the credibility and relevance of continental institutions.
The African Union may not possess enforcement powers strong enough to compel South Africa to act, but it certainly has the moral authority to speak more boldly. It should caution South Africa against actions and failures that damage African unity and weaken confidence in continental integration. If regional organisations cannot defend the safety and dignity of Africans within Africa, then questions about their practical relevance will continue to grow.
Ultimately, South Africa must decide what kind of nation it wants to be. A country that once symbolised the triumph of human dignity over racial oppression cannot afford to become synonymous with hatred against fellow Africans. Xenophobia is not patriotism. Violence against immigrants is not economic policy. Mob attacks do not solve unemployment. They only deepen division, destroy lives and stain national honour.
Africans deserve better from one another. The continent cannot build meaningful unity while citizens are hunted in foreign African streets simply because they speak differently, trade differently or come from another country. Leadership, justice and accountability are urgently required before xenophobia becomes an even deeper wound in Africa’s fragile dream of solidarity.
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