South Africa is experiencing a surge in anti-immigrant sentiment, with reports of violence and displacement raising concerns about the safety of foreign nationals. According to The Guardian, at least five Mozambican citizens were killed in “xenophobic attacks” at the end of May, while South African police reported two Mozambicans and one South African had died during an outbreak of violence in Mossel Bay on the south coast.

Shelter and Eviction in Informal Settlements

Roughly 60 miles south-east of Cape Town, about 100 people from Mozambique and Malawi sought refuge in the town hall of Kleinmond after an angry crowd ordered foreigners in an informal settlement to leave. Many of those displaced have requested assistance from their home governments to return. Ghana has already arranged flights for hundreds of its citizens to leave South Africa.

Roots of Resentment and Historical Context

South Africa has long relied on migrant labor, particularly from neighboring countries, with Nelson Mandela welcoming African migrants after the end of white-minority rule in 1994. However, economic struggles, including hyperinflation in Zimbabwe, have pushed many to seek opportunities in South Africa. Endemic unemployment and inequality have led some South Africans to blame immigrants for their hardships, with violence flaring periodically.

The 2008 xenophobic riots were among the worst, with 62 people killed, including 21 South Africans, and more than 150,000 displaced. In 2015, at least five people were killed. According to the Human Sciences Research Council, a state body, the proportion of South Africans who said they would welcome all immigrants fell from 25% in 2020 to 15% last year.

Personal Stories and Legal Vulnerability

“Every day and almost everyone I meet, they are in fear, extreme fear,” said an Ethiopian entrepreneur who moved to South Africa in 2000 and is married to a local woman. The couple has a 19-year-old daughter. He noted that even legal status offers no protection from the violence.

“The sad part is it’s not because they are undocumented … But none of the legal documents will protect you from the violence.”

While The Black Wall Street Times highlights broader global migration concerns, particularly in the context of U.S. immigration policies, the immediate issue in South Africa highlights how xenophobic tensions can quickly spiral into violence and displacement, regardless of legal status or contributions to the local economy.