South Africa’s Xenophobic Eruption

This research paper by Jonny Steinberg for the Institute for Security Studies examines the 'xenophobic riots' in South Africa between 11 and 26 May 2008. Through interviews with victims, perpetrators, and local leaders, the author argues that while the violence targeted foreign nationals, it was driven by a patrimonial understanding of the economy as a finite resource and fueled by local struggles for state patronage.

• Between 11 and 26 May 2008, South Africa experienced nationwide social unrest termed 'xenophobic riots,' resulting in 62 deaths—mostly foreign nationals—and the displacement of approximately 35,000 people from their homes.
• The violence began in the Beirut section of Alexandra township on 11 May 2008, where it was influenced by existing ethnic tensions and local political struggles for state resources, specifically regarding a R3-billion government rebuilding initiative.
• The unrest was not solely driven by xenophobia; it involved internal South African conflicts, including ethnic clashes where Venda and Tsonga-speaking South Africans were targeted and driven from their homes.
• There is a significant disparity in unemployment rates in Johannesburg between foreign nationals (20%) and South Africans (33%), with many foreigners succeeding as self-employed entrepreneurs despite lacking legal status or venture capital.
• The author identifies a 'lump of labour fallacy' among perpetrators, who view the national economy as a finite resource. In this view, the prosperity of foreign nationals is perceived as the theft of resources that belong to South Africans.
• Local politics in the affected areas are heavily dominated by struggles for state patronage, where access to government resources (such as RDP housing and jobs) is often mediated by political party connections.
• The paper suggests that the South African political elite has fostered a 'distributive' rather than 'developmental' state, prioritizing wealth accumulation through political influence and equity transfers (Black Economic Empowerment) over economic innovation.
• Following the riots, the South African government refused to recognize victims as refugees to avoid legal commitments, and some displaced persons faced forced removals from temporary camps to detention facilities like Lindela.

APA

Steinberg, J. (2008). South Africa’s Xenophobic Eruption. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper169.pdf

Chicago

Steinberg, Jonny. South Africa’s Xenophobic Eruption. Institute for Security Studies, 2008. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper169.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Steinberg |first1=Jonny |title=South Africa’s Xenophobic Eruption |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=November 2008 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper169.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{steinberg2008south, author = {Steinberg, Jonny}, title = {{South Africa’s Xenophobic Eruption}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2008}, month = nov, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper169.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }