For more than a month, violence targeting African migrants has been escalating in South Africa, revealing troubling security drift and an official silence that raises serious questions.
South Africa is currently experiencing a particularly tense period marked by a resurgence of xenophobic attacks against African nationals. Nigerians, Ghanaians, and Congolese are among the primary targets of this sustained wave of violence. In several urban areas, organized groups promoting anti-immigration rhetoric have taken over public spaces, conducting improvised control operations. Armed with sticks and whips, these individuals patrol the streets, attack businesses owned by foreigners, and impose a climate of fear by demanding identity documents and proof of origin.
This alarming dynamic is being openly supported by political actors. The movement "Concerned Citizens and the Voters of SA” has publicly endorsed these actions and is calling for a nationwide mobilization on Monday, May 4. The stated objective is radical: to expel all foreigners, regardless of their legal status. This widely circulated message contributes to normalizing violence and shaping an exclusionary narrative that further weakens the social fabric.
In response to this escalation, some African capitals are beginning to raise their voices. On April 22, 2026, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, reported a phone conversation with his South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola, referring to "extremely disturbing” footage of Ghanaians being attacked. The following day, Accra summoned the acting chargé d’affaires of the South African mission, demanding clear guarantees for the safety of its nationals. This reaction reflects growing concern over a situation that now extends beyond domestic boundaries.
In Pretoria, however, the lack of official communication is fueling questions. The government of President Cyril Ramaphosa has yet to issue any public statement regarding these events. This silence, amid repeated acts of violence, is strongly criticized by many African observers. On social media, voices are denouncing what is perceived as passivity amounting to implicit tolerance, especially as judicial action against perpetrators remains largely invisible.
This crisis highlights an increasingly noted gap between South Africa’s international engagement and its handling of internal tensions. Since December 2023, Pretoria has positioned itself on the global stage by bringing a case against Israel before the International Court of Justice over alleged violations of the Genocide Convention in Gaza. This move, praised for its legal and symbolic significance, now stands in stark contrast with the absence of a firm response to violence targeting African populations within its own borders.
In the background, these events reveal persistent structural imbalances. High unemployment, socio-economic inequalities, and a sense of marginalization among segments of the population create fertile ground for identity-driven tensions. In this context, migrants become easy scapegoats. This evolution raises profound questions about South Africa’s political and moral legacy—long regarded as a model of reconciliation—and its ability to maintain its influence and credibility across the African continent.