Xenophobia: Violence against Foreign Nationals and other Outsiders in Contemporary South Africa

Overview

From 11 to 26 May 2008, foreign nationals and ethnic minorities were attacked in at least 138 sites across South Africa. This resulted in 62 reported deaths. At least a third of those killed (21) were South African citizens from ethnic minorities. In addition to the murders, over a hundred thousand people were displaced and millions of Rand of property were damaged or stolen. Since then, almost every month there has been at least one attack on groups of foreign nationals. Organisations working with migrants regularly report threats of renewed large-scale: ‘Xenophobic’ violence is a serious ongoing concern.

Read here: ‘Xenophobia’: Violence against Foreign Nationals and other ‘Outsiders’ in Contemporary South Africa 

Author: Tara Polzer