Bloomberg: Why anti-migrant attacks are flaring in South Africa

Photo: EPA

South Africa has seen a wave of xenophobic attacks and demonstrations against the presence of undocumented migrants in recent months. There are mounting concerns that the violence could escalate, particularly as protesters demand that these foreign nationals leave the country by June 30, Bloomberg writes.

Scores of Malawians, Mozambicans, Zimbabweans, Nigerians and other African nationals have been assaulted and their businesses vandalized and looted. More than 3,000 foreigners who have fled their homes have been repatriated, while thousands more are awaiting help to return to their countries of origin.

For some South Africans, migrants have become an easy target to blame for issues the state has failed to address. People are angry about high unemployment, violent crime, broken infrastructure and poor public services. The rise in anti-migrant sentiment comes as municipal elections loom in November.

How many migrants are there in South Africa?

Accurate data is hard to come by, since many people have entered the country illegally or overstayed tourist and student visas. Surveys conducted by the national statistics agency show that more than 3 million immigrants are present in South Africa — which has a population of about 63 million — up from 2.2 million in 2011 and 1 million in 2002. These figures don’t distinguish between those who are in the country legally and those who are undocumented.

Most migrants come from neighboring countries and cross the border in search of a better life. South Africa is the region’s biggest economy. Its per-capita gross domestic product is about $7,500, around seven times higher than in Nigeria and almost 12 times higher than in Mozambique.

Why are foreigners being targeted?

Anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa has increased over the past two decades and become more pronounced since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the government-funded Human Sciences Research Council. Some locals see migrants as competitors for scarce housing, healthcare and education.

While South Africa is wealthier than its continental peers, it has an unemployment rate of 33% — one of the highest in the world — and is ranked as the most unequal country by the Thomas Piketty-backed World Inequality Lab. Economic growth has stagnated, averaging less than 1% per year over the past decade.

Who is behind the protests?

Most have been organized by a vigilante group known as March and March, which initially began staging demonstrations at schools and hospitals, falsely alleging that foreign nationals were being given preferential treatment over locals. It has stepped up its activities since the start of April, staging regular marches and rallying support through social media.

March and March has called for all undocumented foreigners to vacate South Africa by June 30 and threatened to intensify its campaign if they don’t go. The group also says it will conduct its own checks to identify those who are in the country illegally.

What is the government doing?

In a televised address to the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged that illegal immigration is a major problem and pledged to step up deportations, boost border security and penalize businesses employing undocumented migrants. At the same time, he urged the protesters to leave law enforcement to the authorities.

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said in mid-June that 7,400 undocumented migrants had been arrested over the past month for contravening immigration laws, taking the year-to-date total to more than 40,000.

How bad could the protests get?

There is potential for the situation to get much worse if past experience is anything to go by. South Africa has seen several previous instances of violence targeting foreigners, the worst of which was in 2008, when about 60 people were killed and 50,000 displaced. There were major flare-ups in 2015 and 2019 as well.

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