OPINIONS & PERSPECTIVES: We Are Dealing With Something Deeper Than A Simple Hostility Towards Foreigners

South Africans are being called xenophobic, but I don’t think that label tells the full story.

As a political studies and criminal justice student, I’ve been paying close attention to the current tensions around foreign nationals around the country.

After engaging with many perspectives, including those of commentators like Vusi Thembekwayo, I am more convinced that we are dealing with something deeper than simple hostility toward outsiders, in particular those from around the African continent.

What I see and hear is that what we are witnessing is frustration misdirected.

There is a growing narrative that pits one African against another. Right now it feels like it is a brother against brother, a sister against a sister, when in reality, the root cause lies elsewhere.

As South Africans, if we are being honest, we have to start with the acknowledgment of structural failures within our own state, border security has been compromised by corruption and poor enforcement which has been rife long before I was even born.

Economic instability has meant limited opportunities for citizens for many years and service delivery has steadily declined over time, leaving low income communities under pressure and feeling neglected.

When systems fail at this level, social tension is inevitable. But reducing this complex issue to “xenophobia” oversimplifies the problem and avoids accountability.

This is not linear, so at the same time, it must be said clearly, illegal immigration is not a sustainable reality for any country, let’s not get that mistaken.

This is not about nationality, race, or identity. It is about legality, governance, and capacity. No one state can function effectively if its borders are porous and its policies are inconsistently enforced.

However, and this is critical, violence is not a solution. It only deepens division and undermines any legitimate concerns citizens may have.

What we need, instead, is a dual approach - - a firm but fair immigration reform. South Africa needs a more rigorous and transparent immigration system, one that protects sovereignty, while allowing for legal, skills-based migration that contributes to the economy.

We need accountability in governance and citizens must demand stronger border management, anti-corruption measures, and economic policies that create opportunities locally.

Furthermore, continental dialogue is needed urgently to address this. Migration pressures don’t exist in isolation. African states need to engage one another in meaningful discussions about stability, opportunity, and regional cooperation, so that migration is a choice, not a necessity.

Right now for many foreign nationals it feels like a necessity.

And lastly we need a responsible civic response. And I can’t stress this one enough. Frustration is understandable, but violence is not. Constructive engagement, policy advocacy, and dialogue are the only paths forward.

South Africa should not become a pressure valve for the continent’s systemic challenges, but neither should we turn on each other while ignoring the real issues.

If we are heading down a dark path, then the responsibility is ours to change direction. Just not with chaos.