Xenophobic Attacks South Africa: Rising New Wave

Xenophobic attacks in South Africa have escalated recently, with vigilante groups targeting foreign nationals from Africa and Asia. Human Rights Watch highlights that the response from police and authorities has been inadequate. In April and May 2026, a citizen-led movement known as March and March organized protests in major cities like Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Durban, advocating for stricter immigration enforcement. Unfortunately, these demonstrations have turned violent, leading to fatalities. "South Africa’s constitution and international human rights law safeguard the right to protest, but that does not permit resorting to violence," stated Nomathamsanqa Masiko-Mpaka, a researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Authorities should prevent vigilantes from violently attacking foreign nationals and ensure that those responsible face justice." Since 2008, South Africa has struggled with sporadic waves of xenophobic harassment and violence, which have included the deaths of 62 individuals in that year alone, comprising South Africans and various nationalities including Mozambicans, Zimbabweans, and Somalis. Further incidents of violence against foreign nationals occurred in 2015, 2019—mainly targeting Nigerians—and from 2021 to 2022. The rise of groups like Operation Dudula has stoked these tensions. Since 2024, worsening socioeconomic conditions, highlighted by an unemployment rate exceeding 43%, have fueled anti-immigrant sentiment and the formation of new vigilante groups such as March and March. These organizations blame foreign nationals for South Africa’s economic problems, poor service delivery, and high crime rates, even though research disproves these allegations. In addition, these vigilantes have obstructed foreign nationals from accessing essential health care and education resources. In November 2025, the South Gauteng High Court issued an injunction against Operation Dudula, preventing its members from blocking migrants from healthcare services. Mpho Makhubela, associated with the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA) and an activist in the Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia (KAAX) coalition, expressed concern about the opportunistic behavior of these groups. "These vigilantes capitalize on the nation’s frustrations, socioeconomic deterioration, and high unemployment rates," he remarked. "Addressing the legacy of apartheid remains a significant challenge for our country." A 43-year-old Cameroonian shop owner in Durban, who has resided in South Africa for nearly two decades, recounted an attack against him on April 17, 2026, during the protests targeting foreign-owned businesses. Despite locking his shop and turning off the lights, a group of around ten men forcibly entered, assaulted him and his colleagues with golf sticks and sjamboks, and used pepper spray. "They followed us outside and continued to whip us, while no one intervened," he recalled. Though the shop owner is legally residing in South Africa and is married to a South African woman, his attackers did not verify his immigration status. He reported that law enforcement did not protect him, echoing past instances where police failed to support foreign nationals or, worse, colluded with attackers. The shop owner did not file an assault report due to his lack of faith in the justice system. Though Human Rights Watch has not confirmed cases of fatalities among foreign nationals caused by vigilantes during the recent protests, a credible report surfaced detailing a Malawian national who was beaten, tortured by police, and subsequently placed in the trunk of a vehicle after failing to produce proper documentation. Tragically, the man died from his injuries. On April 27, UN Secretary-General António Guterres raised alarms concerning the xenophobic harassment and violence reported in South Africa. Similarly, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights called on the government to investigate these acts of violence and ensure accountability while providing affected migrants with access to justice. South Africa’s Constitution guarantees human rights and equality to everyone within its borders, regardless of citizenship status. The nation is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, with obligations to protect all individuals from discrimination-related violence, including xenophobia. Furthermore, South Africa adheres to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, with the monitoring committee expressing ongoing concern over attacks on foreign nationals for over a decade. In December 2023, the committee urged South Africa to combat organized vigilante groups, provide redress to victims of discrimination, protect their property, and ensure thorough investigations into all reports of human rights violations against non-citizens. "Authorities must intensify initiatives to combat anti-immigrant sentiments and violence, ensuring the safety of vulnerable foreign nationals," Masiko-Mpaka emphasized. "Full accountability for vigilante groups is essential, including effective prosecution of violators." Source URL: https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/05/20/south-africa-new-waves-of-xenophobic-attacks For further reading on migration-related issues, visit [GlobeMigrant's resources on migration](https://www.globemigrant.com/migration-resources) and learn more about [xenophobia and its impact](https://www.globemigrant.com/xenophobia-in-south-africa).

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