Xenophobia in South Africa: Online Conversations Reach New Heights
In August, the online conversation about immigrants in South Africa reached a boiling point, with Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero’s suggestion to hire immigrants to improve efficiency with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department sparking widespread debate. According to the Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change (CABC), the topic generated 849,040 mentions of xenophobia, an 80% increase from July 2024.
Morero’s proposal aimed to address language barriers when foreign nationals are arrested, but many South Africans disagreed, citing the country’s high unemployment rate. The suggestion led to a backlash, with some Soweto residents marching to Morero’s office with CVs, stating that if there were jobs for immigrants, there should be jobs for South Africans.
The controversy surrounding Morero’s suggestion led to a withdrawal of the proposal, with the mayor apologizing for any anxiety caused to the residents of Johannesburg and the people of South Africa.
The online conversation was dominated by hashtags #OperationDudula, #PutSouthAfricansFirst, and #MissSA2024. #PutSouthAfricansFirst advocated for the priority of South Africans in all aspects, with supporters calling for the expulsion of undocumented immigrants and for the nation to address its social, economic, and security challenges. ‘Operation Dudula’ is a movement that aims to remove undocumented immigrants, targeting foreign-owned spaza shops.
The #MissSA2024 controversy surrounding Chidimma Adetshina’s citizenship also sparked a heated debate, raising concerns about identity theft, immigration, and the selection process for national pageants. Adetshina’s father is Nigerian, and her mother, originally thought to be South African, is from Mozambique. An investigation is currently underway to determine whether fraud or identity theft was involved in the registration of Adetshina’s birth.
The online anti-immigrant conversation continues to be dominated by anonymous comments, highlighting the need for open and respectful dialogue about immigration and xenophobia in South Africa.