South Africa’s conversation on immigration is becoming increasingly tense, emotional, and polarised.
Unfortunately, dismissing public concern outrightly ignores the lived realities of many South Africans.
By Malik Arafat
On one side are communities raising concerns about uncontrolled illegal immigration, pressure on public services, and growing competition in informal and low-skilled sectors.
On the other side are voices warning against xenophobia and Afrophobia, urging protection of vulnerable foreign nationals.
Lost in this debate is a deeper and more uncomfortable truth: South Africans are not responding to migration in a vacuum. They are responding through the lens of history.
South Africa, like many parts of the world, has a long history of externally influenced population movements.
From the early colonial period to the mining and agricultural economies, systems were deliberately structured to move and control labour across borders. Migrant labour was not accidental — it was organised, regulated, and often exploitative.
Globally, similar patterns can be observed. In Australia, European settlement led to the displacement of Indigenous populations. In the Americas, the collapse of Indigenous populations and the importation of enslaved Africans reshaped entire societies. In Brazil, policies encouraging European immigration sought to alter the demographic composition of the country.
These were not organic migrations. They were coordinated, often state-supported efforts tied to economic control, land, and power.
It is important to be clear: it’s unclear whether immigration in present-day South Africa is a direct continuation of those historical projects or not, since there is to-date no clear evidence of a coordinated, corporate or state-driven programme to replace local populations.
It seems today’s migration patterns are largely driven by regional inequality, economic opportunity, and, critically, weak governance and enforcement. However, the role of syndicates cannot be overlooked because of the prevalence of human and drugs trafficking, hijacked buildings and properties, illegal mining, counterfeit products etc.
Unfortunately, dismissing public concern outrightly ignores the lived realities of many South Africans.
In townships, informal settlements, and rural areas, the experience of migration is not measured in national statistics. It is felt in crowded clinics, long housing waiting lists, limited job opportunities, and the visible transformation of local economies.
In many of these spaces, foreign nationals are highly active in small-scale trade and informal business sectors, creating both economic dynamism and heightened competition.
For communities already struggling with unemployment and limited access to services, this can create a real sense of displacement — whether or not it reflects national demographic trends.
A key issue complicating this debate is the lack of reliable and widely trusted data. Official figures suggest that foreign nationals make up a relatively small percentage of the total population. However, illegal and undocumented migration is inherently difficult to measure, and gaps in data collection fuel suspicion and mistrust.
When people’s lived experiences appear to contradict official statistics, confidence in institutions erodes.
This gap between perception and data is where tensions grow.
It is in this space that accusations of xenophobia often emerge. While there have been undeniable instances of violence and discrimination that must be condemned, not every concern about immigration is rooted in hatred. Many are rooted in frustration with governance failures — failures in border management, documentation systems, economic planning, and service delivery.
At the same time, it is equally important to recognise that unchecked rhetoric can easily shift from policy critique to targeting people, particularly the most vulnerable. This is where the line must be carefully and consciously drawn.
South Africa’s challenge, therefore, is not simply about migration. It is about management, accountability, and trust.
A sustainable path forward requires:
- Clear and enforceable immigration policies
- Efficient and transparent documentation systems
- Stronger local economic development to reduce competition over scarcity
- Reliable data that is openly communicated and trusted by the public
Most importantly, it requires a reframing of the conversation.
The question is not whether migration should exist — it always has and always will. The real question is whether it is being managed in a way that is fair, lawful, and sustainable for both citizens and foreign nationals.
History teaches us that population movements, when poorly managed or deliberately manipulated, can have lasting consequences. But history also teaches us that fear, when left unchecked, can lead to division and injustice.
South Africa stands at the intersection of both lessons.
The task now is to move beyond accusation and denial, and towards a grounded, honest conversation — one that recognises real pressures, rejects harmful generalisations, and demands better from those entrusted to govern.
Malik Arafat is Veteran Azanian Muslim Activist, Author and former journalist at SABC (Lesedi FM) and former Head of News at Islamic Television Networks (ITV).
©Higher Education Media Services.