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“There has been a race to the bottom among all of the parties, where everyone is trying to show that they are strong, or stronger, on immigration. It is a convenient way to offer a false solution to South Africa’s very real problems without having to take responsibility.” – Prof. Loren Landau, African Centre for…

Associate Professor Jo Vearey (Co-Director, African Centre for Migration & Society, Wits University) tells Xinhua that migrants are being used as scapegoats for South Africa’s persistent challenges, inequality, unemployment, and pressure on public services. Blaming migrants for these challenges is “factually incorrect,” she said. Vearey also warns that attacks on migrant-owned businesses could ultimately hurt South Africa’s…

South Africa’s struggling healthcare system is not caused by undocumented foreign nationals, according to experts. Prof. Jo Vearey (ACMS): “It is not true that immigrants are the cause of SA’s healthcare problem. Blaming migrants for state failures is scapegoating.” READ in The Citizen.  [Photo Credit: iStock / The Citizen]  

Nigeria says two of its citizens have been killed in South Africa amid a surge in xenophobic violence; as attacks and intimidation against foreigners continue to spiral. Prof. Jo Vearey (ACMS at the University of the Witwatersrand): “Even if all foreign nationals were removed, that’s not going to address a 38% unemployment rate.” READ the…

An anti-foreigner march was filmed in Katlehong as a leader threatened to dismantle a foreign-owned salon, the latest incident in a wave of vigilante mobilisation targeting foreign nationals. Professor Loren Landau (African Centre for Migration & Society at the University of the Witwatersrand) warns of the deeper implications: “What we are seeing is the fragmentation…

In a country where xenophobia has a deep legacy, a recent well-funded iteration has emerged, feeding on post-apartheid failures and local insecurities. Xenowatch verifies that mass xenophobic violence has occurred in South Africa, with 703 people killed in xenophobic incidents since the end of apartheid. This latest wave is different. It is well-funded, legitimised by…