South Africa is currently receiving a lot of attention across Africa and on global social media platforms due to recent incidents of violence targeting foreign nationals. These events have raised serious concerns and opened wider discussions about governance, inequality, migration, and social cohesion within one of Africa’s most influential economies.
While the situation is often described as xenophobia, it is more accurately understood as a result of deeper structural, economic, and institutional challenges.
I am writing this piece to contribute to this ongoing discussion in a constructive way. My intention is to encourage understanding of the underlying causes while also strongly emphasising that violence can never be a solution to any social or economic problem. When problems are met with violence, they only create more suffering and make real solutions harder to achieve.
First, I appreciate Maribe Mamabolo, a South African and alumnus of the Young African Leaders Initiative under the Mandela Washington Fellowship, for his thoughtful views on this issue. His insights help explain how frustration in communities can sometimes be shaped by daily struggles such as unemployment, pressure on services, and economic competition. As he notes, people often respond to what directly affects their lives, such as what they experience in their streets, clinics, schools, and workplaces.
At the same time, it must be clearly stated that no matter the level of frustration or hardship, violence against innocent people is unacceptable and unjustifiable. Foreign nationals living and working legally in South Africa are not responsible for institutional failures or economic challenges. Targeting them does not solve any problem; instead, it increases division and creates more instability within communities.
The current situation is influenced by several factors, including high unemployment, inequality, weak enforcement of immigration and labour laws, and, in some cases, alleged corruption within public institutions. These challenges create pressure within communities, especially in informal economic spaces where people compete for survival. Some of the attackers justify their actions by pointing to alleged corruption and failure of enforcement systems, which they believe have contributed to unfair competition and illegal activities. However, when systems fail, the responsibility for reform lies with institutions, not individuals.
A key question that arises is how ordinary people determine who is legally or illegally present in a country. In any functioning state, this responsibility belongs to law enforcement agencies, immigration authorities, and regulatory bodies. When these systems are weak or compromised, the solution must be institutional reform and accountability, not violence against individuals who are often equally struggling to survive.
In conversations with South African friends, including some working within government and private institutions, there is a concern that media and social platforms sometimes focus heavily on violent incidents without giving equal attention to the underlying causes or institutional responses. While this concern is understandable, it is also important to recognise that reporting on violence is a matter of public interest. The world must be informed when human lives are at risk. At the same time, broader reporting that includes governance failures, corruption investigations, and state responses is equally important for a balanced understanding.
In my view, both traditional and social media play an important role in informing the public. They help the world understand what is happening beyond borders, especially in situations involving human rights and safety. However, media attention should never be interpreted as justification for violence; rather, it should serve as a call for urgent peaceful action and reform.
From my own experience, including my visit to South Africa in 2023 for the Nelson Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Public Management Track, Symposium in Johannesburg, I observed both the energy of the country and the concerns around safety and public perception. Such experiences show how fear and uncertainty can shape human behaviour, but they also reinforce the importance of acting within the law and respecting due process at all times.
It is also important to avoid generalising individuals or communities based on isolated incidents. The actions of a few people cannot define entire nationalities. When crime occurs, it should be addressed through law enforcement and justice systems, not collective punishment or retaliation.
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Across Africa, many countries face similar pressures such as unemployment, inequality, and governance challenges. However, the response to these challenges must always remain grounded in law, dialogue, and reform. South Sudan, for example, also experiences economic and governance difficulties, yet violence against foreign nationals has not become a social response. This shows that hardship does not have to lead to hostility.
Ultimately, the responsibility lies with both the state and society. The South African government must continue to strengthen immigration systems, improve accountability, and address corruption within relevant institutions. At the same time, citizens must choose lawful and peaceful ways of expressing frustration and demanding change.
Violence is not a solution to any problem. In fact, it adds another problem on top of existing ones. It destroys trust, weakens communities, and delays meaningful reform. Real progress is only possible when grievances are addressed through justice, dialogue, and institutional accountability.
As Maribe Mamabolo rightly emphasises, understanding complexity is important. However, complexity must never be used to justify harm. Africa’s future depends on building societies where frustration leads to reform, not violence, and where differences lead to dialogue, not destruction.
Only through such an approach can the dignity, safety, and unity of all Africans, both citizens and migrants, be protected.
By Joseph Ngor Deng
Alumnus, YALI
Juba, South Sudan
