Why are anti-migrant attacks increasing in South Africa?
Anti-migrant attacks are increasing in South Africa, fueled by rising xenophobia and protests from anti-immigration groups. Human Rights Watch has reported a surge in violence and harassment against foreign nationals, particularly targeting Zimbabweans. The situation is exacerbated by socioeconomic issues such as unemployment and inequality, leading to community tensions and vigilante actions.
- ▪Human Rights Watch has warned of a new wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
- ▪Protests led by anti-immigration groups have intensified in cities like Johannesburg and Durban.
- ▪Many incidents of violence against migrants go unreported due to fear of retaliation.
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NewsWhy are anti-migrant attacks increasing in South Africa?Rising xenophobia in South Africa leaves migrants facing harassment, job losses and community violence.ListenListen (7 mins)SaveClick here to share on social mediashare-nodesSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoDemonstrators carry placards during a march against xenophobia in downtown Johannesburg [Reuters]By Enos DenherePublished On 23 May 202623 May 2026Johannesburg, South Africa – Human Rights Watch has warned of a new wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa as anti-immigration groups intensify protests and vigilante-style actions targeting foreign nationals, including Zimbabweans.The warning came in a report released on Tuesday amid rising protests in South African cities, including…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Al Jazeera English.