South Africa has witnessed a surge in xenophobic violence targeting African immigrants, reflecting deeper socioeconomic challenges and longstanding inequality within the country. Over the past several months, attacks on foreign nationals have resulted in the deaths of at least four people and the displacement of thousands. These developments have prompted several African governments to coordinate evacuations of their citizens.

The violence and protests have largely been driven by two groups: Operation Dudula, a movement whose name means “to remove by force” in isiZulu and is now a registered political party, and March and March, a grassroots civic organization that draws on Zulu nationalist symbolism. Both groups have campaigned aggressively against undocumented migrants, often engaging in door-to-door raids demanding residency papers and expelling foreigners from communities. The protests have extended to blockading hospitals and health centers, barring access to anyone suspected of not being South African. Calls have also emerged for the expulsion of South African women married to foreigners, underscoring the intensity of the anti-migrant sentiment.

Support for these movements appears concentrated among the poor and unemployed, reflecting the deeply entrenched inequality in South Africa. The country’s Gini coefficient, a measure of income disparity where 0 signifies equality and 1 maximal inequality, stands at 0.63—the highest level recorded globally. Wealth is heavily concentrated, with the top 10% of the population holding between 71% and 85% of total wealth, while the bottom 50% contends with a mere 4% to 7%. Official unemployment is at 32%, but broader measures that include discouraged job seekers place it at 43.7%, with youth unemployment exceeding 60%. Basic services remain inadequate: about one in eight households live in informal settlements, more than half lack running water inside their homes, and nearly 14 million people have no access to flush toilets.

Economic experts attribute these disparities to structural shifts including deindustrialization, trade liberalization, and deregulated financial markets, which have eroded sectors traditionally employing large numbers of black workers. The precarious nature of much employment, marked by minimal labor protections, facilitates exploitation and wage insecurity. Austerity measures and pervasive government corruption, notably linked to the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and intertwined with organized crime, have further undermined service delivery and democratic governance. Reports describe the persistence of “state capture,” a system enabling criminal economies within the government framework.

Observers note that the failure of the post-apartheid political leadership to fulfill promises of social and economic justice has fostered resentment among the working class. The ANC’s moral authority, once derived from its role in ending apartheid, has significantly diminished over the years. Movements like Operation Dudula and March and March, offering political agency to marginalized groups, have emerged as outlets for this frustration. Commentators describe this phenomenon as marginalized communities mobilizing against other marginalized groups, while those in power avoid accountability.

Political dynamics have further complicated the situation, with some factions within the elite reportedly fueling anti-immigrant rhetoric. March and March, for example, maintains close ties to uMkhonto Wesizwe, a political party led by former president Jacob Zuma, whose tenure was marred by multiple corruption scandals. Analysts highlight how political actors frame foreign nationals as threats to societal order and resources, deflecting attention from systemic failures.

South Africa’s xenophobic violence exemplifies broader global trends, where economic inequality and political disenfranchisement fuel social divisions. The country’s crisis illustrates how elite manipulation of public anger can thwart meaningful reforms, leaving marginalized populations vulnerable to scapegoating instead of addressing the root causes of their plight.