Reflecting on xenophobia in South Africa

The violence against foreign Africans has undermined and will continue to undermine the African National Congress’s foreign policy of positioning South Africa as a so-called moral force. It will undermine South Africa’s influence in Africa as well as in continental and global institutions. It is likely to result in African countries not supporting South Africa as it pushes for reforms to make global trade, institutions and technology transfer fairer to developing countries and will undermine the country’s efforts to push for social justice around the world. It was reported that several African ambassadors and high commissioners snubbed South Africa’s flagship Africa Day event this week in Moruleng by not attending, in what was seen as a protest against attacks on foreign nationals from African countries. Demonstrations against migrants, mostly from other African countries, have been building for months after a flare-up late last year when undocumented foreign nationals were blocked from accessing clinics and hospitals. Vigilantes are threatening to remove undocumented migrants by 30 June. Many progressive South African civil society organisations, Pan-Africanists and activists against rights violations elsewhere have either strongly supported the violence against African migrants or have remained silent. South Africa has significant trade relations with African countries. South Africa’s trade with the rest of Africa accounts for about 24% of the country’s total global exports. South Africa is central to African continental institutions, such as the African Union and the Pan-African Parliament and to pushing for a pro-African global agenda. Expanding African trade is key to South Africa’s trade diversification strategy. Rising xenophobia in South Africa will undermine the country’s Africa trade expansion strategy. Some of the influx into South Africa of migrants from failing African countries has been self-inflicted by the ANC government. In its long-standing foreign