Church Ramification to Peace and Justice for Migrants in South Africa

Xenophobia is part of a broader problem of prejudice in South African society. Half of the general South African population blamed foreigners for the violence against immigrants in terms of alleged involvement in crime and perceptions of stealing jobs from South Africans. In the midst of this conundrum, one of the most important works of the church as an active agency in accepting and assisting migrants comes from Alfred Brunsdon and Christopher Magezi. This paper sought to answer differently within the South African societal context a number of questions they pose in one of their co-authored works regarding the role of the church institution in the continuous debate and contestation on the state of migrants: should the church persist with sympathy and care? Should the church continue to offer refuge to people shrouded in suspicion and tax their hosts with many challenges and burdens? Should the church not rather side with the growing number of South Africans who are showing a negative attitude towards migrants and become part of the movement that sees the deportation of migrants as the best solution to the phenomenon of xenophobia? To do this, this paper utilised Christian theological argument that outlines the benefit of internationalised local church; the promise of good judgement and the need to care and love our neighbours in a manner that ensure peace and justice for migrants in South Africa. The article thus contributes to the literature on the complexities associated with the South African church institution and its role in caring for migrants in the country.