Xenophobia threatens the foundation of our constitutional values

DEBUNKING myths and misinformation are key to developing an effective response to addressing xenophobia in South Africa, but this needs to be accompanied by strategies that address the drivers of xenophobic violence.

Xenophobia is defined in the National Action Plan to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, as an attitudinal orientation/hostility towards international migrants.

Xenophobia manifests in different ways – the most visible being violence. Research paints a dim view of the myths and attitudes most of the population holds towards international immigrants, but what is even more disturbing are findings of increasing levels of participation in anti-immigrant violence and support for vigilantism.

Research and population data have dispelled myths informing xenophobic attitudes towards international migrants. Findings of public opinion surveys conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) since 2003 reveal that most of the population believe that international migrants are responsible for the country’s socio-economic problems.

Half the adult population think there are between 17 million to 40 million international migrants in the country.

However, mid-year population estimates for 2022 indicate there are only 3.98 million foreign born persons in South Africa. The term “foreign” includes not only migrants but people who have moved to South Africa legally and have become South Africans over time; people with work permits and study permits; documented migrants; unaccompanied minors; and asylum seekers/refugees.

Another inaccuracy perpetuated is that migrants are “stealing jobs”. The facts paint another picture – migrants have a long-standing employment record in South Africa and have been found to contribute to the economy, as indicated in a World Bank Study which found that for every employed migrant, they create jobs for two South Africans.

Research also indicates that migrants work primarily in the informal sector which, according to Statistics SA, is highest in non-metros. This debunks the claims.

A main contributor to anti-immigrant sentiment is misinformation and the irresponsible diffusion of information by people in positions of leadership.

This, accompanied by the failure to make use of official statistics, or informing planning and policy development, have resulted in perpetuation of untruths.

However, while addressing attitudes and tackling the issue of scapegoating and xenophobic mobilisation is necessary, strategies need to be accompanied by interventions to address the drivers of xenophobic violence.

Interventions, it is argued, need to be reframed to tackle the drivers of xenophobic violence. Ironically, the concerns of those community leaders and groups leading xenophobic violence are framed around social justice issues – inequality, violence, economic insecurity, inflation.

Xenophobic violence is not an immigration issue; it’s about “gangster government” – the way vigilantes have taken over the law. The drivers of xenophobic violence need to be addressed: poor governance, unemployment and so on. Issues of xenophobia cannot be sealed off from the wider climate of a very fragile status quo.

Xenophobia poses a real threat to the country’s developmental agenda. Scapegoating issues of unemployment, crime, and poverty by blaming international migrants is dangerous and counter-productive.

The media can play an important role in disseminating accurate data, debunking myths and delivering effective communication and education programmes. It would be incorrect to label South Africa as a xenophobic society – only a third of the adult population harbour extremely negative views of international migrants.

But left unchecked, xenophobic attitudes and violence even by a few, could derail South Africa’s fragile democracy.