Public hostility toward immigrants in South Africa has reached record levels in 2025, with 42% of adults expressing an outright refusal to welcome foreign-born residents into the country. This surge in sentiment coincides with persistent economic stagnation and an unemployment rate exceeding 40%, creating a volatile environment that is increasingly manifesting in regular civil unrest.
Crisis Of State Credibility
Analysts suggest that these tensions are less about traditional xenophobia and more indicative of a profound breakdown in trust between citizens and state institutions. According to Africa Confidential, the core of the issue is a systemic failure of government departments to uphold border management, labour regulations, and local economic policies with the consistency required to maintain public faith.
“The tensions surrounding migration are not simply about xenophobia or border control. They reveal a society increasingly accustomed to learning about governance failures after the damage has already been done,” said Dr. Haseena Majid.
Foreign-born residents account for approximately 5.1% of South Africa’s population, numbering roughly 3 million out of 63 million people. Despite these figures remaining relatively stable, the perception of an ungoverned state has allowed populist rhetoric to flourish as political parties prepare for the local government elections on 4 November 2026.
Escalation Of Community Tensions
The “March and March” organisation, led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, has been conducting daily demonstrations for two months, demanding that undocumented foreigners leave the country by 30 June 2026. This activity has been particularly concentrated in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga, where anti-immigrant sentiment remains at its highest.
In response to the mounting pressure, the national government has established a temporary processing facility in Sherwood, Durban, where police and Department of Home Affairs officials are verifying the status of migrants. The United Nations issued a public statement on 12 June 2026, calling for a moderation of rhetoric and urging leadership to address these social frictions through stable, legal channels. Authorities are expected to continue monitoring the situation as the self-imposed deadlines set by protest groups and upcoming election cycles converge.