Human Rights Watch has expressed serious concern about a resurgence of violent xenophobic attacks targeting African and Asian foreign nationals in South Africa, citing insufficient response from police and authorities.
In a detailed interview, Nomathamsanqa Masiko-Mapaka, a South African researcher with Human Rights Watch, highlighted incidents of harassment and violence, particularly in Durban. She noted that vigilante groups have been demanding identification and legal status documents from foreign nationals — actions they have no authority to perform.
“South Africans have the right to protest — it is guaranteed in the constitution,” Masiko-Mapaka said. “However, that does not mean that right is not accompanied with responsibilities… it doesn’t mean that they have the right then to infringe upon the rights of others by harassing, by targeting, by being violent towards them.”
According to the researcher, during protests in Durban’s CBD, groups entered shops, trashed premises, and in some cases attacked owners with sticks and other weapons. Witnesses reported violence even without demands for documentation. She expressed particular worry about the police response in some incidents, where officers allegedly looked the other way during escalating violence or sided with the perpetrators, who are often linked to ongoing marches and protests.
Masiko-Mapaka explained that the individuals involved appear to be anti-immigrant, potentially associated with groups such as Operation Dudula or MK structures, though she stressed uncertainty about direct links. March and March organizers have denied involvement in the violence. She called for an impartial investigation to establish the identity and affiliations of those responsible, echoing similar requests from the UN and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Barriers to Reporting
When asked about the apparent gap between reported incidents and official police complaints, Masiko-Mapaka pointed to multiple obstacles. Victims fear their concerns will not be taken seriously due to anti-foreigner rhetoric portraying them as illegitimate victims. Many also feel disillusioned with the criminal justice system as non-South Africans. Additionally, attackers often cannot be identified, making it difficult to lay formal charges.
“We’ve been requesting for the authorities to actually conduct… a thorough and impartial investigation into this moment that we’re experiencing in this country because there are a lot of gaps,” she said.
Rising Tensions
Recent scenes in Durban showed police positioned to separate protesters from foreign nationals who had sought shelter at a temporary center set up by the Department of Home Affairs. Masiko-Mapaka warned that tensions are rising, with a looming June 30 deadline and upcoming national elections creating a “perfect storm.”
While acknowledging legitimate South African concerns about porous borders, unemployment, and crime, she cautioned against scapegoating migrant communities. She urged focus on addressing corruption within border management, the Department of Home Affairs, and the police, referencing findings from the Madlanga Commission on state capture and corruption in the criminal justice system.
“The minute South Africans talk about the issue of crime, the issue of unemployment… you’re automatically labeled as a xenophobe,” Masiko-Mapaka noted. “We want to be able to have those honest conversations… but pushing away African foreign nationals I’m afraid is not going to solve our problems.”
Human Rights Watch continues to monitor the situation as authorities verify the status of displaced foreign nationals in Durban.
