Columnist criticizes South Africa’s response to xenophobia — Premium Times Nigeria
In South Africa, LEADERSHIP Editor-in-Chief Azu Ishiekwene criticized the response of President Cyril Ramaphosa and other African leaders to xenophobic attacks against African migrants. In a column for Premium Times Nigeria, he called on the authorities to take a tougher stance against such violence.
Data on the attacks
Ishiekwene cited Xenowatch data showing that about 50 people have been killed in xenophobia-related incidents in South Africa over the past three years. According to him, from June until the time the column was written, eight deaths linked to xenophobic attacks on Africans had been confirmed.
Among those killed, the author named two Nigerian citizens — Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo. He said that the Ghanaian News Agency also reported the deaths of two Ghanaian citizens in July and August. Ishiekwene noted that these figures do not account for the injured, displaced people, those forcibly repatriated, or people whose businesses were destroyed.
Migration and inequality
According to the author, politicians are using the 33.6% unemployment rate to spread accusations against migrants. Foreigners, as he describes it, are accused of allegedly taking jobs, placing an additional burden on healthcare and other services, and contributing to crime.
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At the same time, Ishiekwene cited UN estimates according to which, as of mid-2024, about 2.63 million international migrants lived in South Africa, which has a population of 65 million. Most of them were born in countries of the Southern African Development Community, while approximately one quarter came from other African states. According to the data cited in the column, there were 24,718 Nigerian citizens among migrants from outside the countries of this region.
The author also drew attention to inequality in the country. He cited 2024 employment data according to which white employees held 61.1% of senior management positions, while Africans held 18%. According to the data he cited, in 2022–2023 the average income of households headed by white South Africans was nearly five times higher than that of households headed by Black Africans.
Criticism of the authorities
Ishiekwene noted that xenophobic outbreaks in South Africa have continued since 1994, with the first large-scale surge occurring in 2008. He considers the response of Nelson Mandela’s successors and Ramaphosa insufficient, while not accusing the current president of inciting the attacks.
The columnist also critically assessed the possible consideration of the situation by the African Union in January 2027 following an appeal by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He supported the position of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who, according to Ishiekwene, said that African leaders had done too little to end xenophobic violence in South Africa.
