A South African Perspective on Immigrants and Xenophobia in Post-1994 South Africa

From a South African perspective, xenophobia is not a new phenomenon. Nonetheless, the escalating xenophobic violence that erupted in 2008 gave much impetus in scholarly attention to amply delve on the drivers and consequences of xenophobia in South Africa post-1994. It is ironic that after 25 years as a democratic state after the African National Congress (ANC) government came into power in 1994, xenophobia against foreign migrants is still persistence. After re-emerging from its pariah state status, South Africa has over the last two decades made major strides in its hegemonic ambitions in Southern Africa and Africa broadly. It relative robust economy, military might, infrastructure, transportation networks, financial institutions, the private sector and political stability has made it be a receiving migrant state. By utilizing a mainly qualitative method supplemented with secondary sources, the aim of this paper is to ponder xenophobia within the realms of post-1994 South Africa.