Why are migrants targets in South Africa's anti-immigrant protests?

Anti-immigrant sentiment is on the rise in South Africa, leading to protests and fear among foreign nationals. Groups organizing these marches claim that migrants, particularly those undocumented, are overwhelming the nation by taking jobs, overusing scarce public resources like hospitals and schools, and driving up crime rates.

These concerns echo sentiments expressed by civil groups, with surveys indicating a significant portion of South Africans hold negative views towards immigrants. For instance, one poll revealed a sharp increase in hostility towards foreigners, with many believing immigrants negatively impact the economy.

However, official statistics challenge these perceptions. Data from 2023 indicates that migrants constitute about 4.1% of South Africa’s population, a figure lower than in countries like Britain or Canada. Experts also point out that crime statistics do not disproportionately implicate immigrants, with most reported offenses being immigration-related violations. Furthermore, a World Bank report from 2018 suggested that migrant employment actually creates jobs for South Africans through increased economic activity.

The strain on public services, such as healthcare and education, is more accurately attributed to long-standing issues of underfunding and corruption, rather than immigrant usage. Undocumented migrants are generally reluctant to use public services for fear of detection.

The underlying causes of this xenophobia are complex, rooted in historical policies and current socio-economic challenges. High unemployment, poor service delivery, and extreme inequality are significant factors contributing to public anger, which is easily misdirected towards migrant communities, especially with local elections approaching.

“Immigrants are by no means the reason why services and the economy have faltered, but people remember what confirms their biases,” noted Professor Loren B. Landau. “What they don’t see is the foreigners investing, trading or providing skills the economy needs.”

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)