Collective call to stop attacks on migrants

A press statement issued on 23 January 2022 by a collective of organisations, including the Public Affairs Research Institute and the Defend our Democracy Campaign, condemning the targeting of migrants in South Africa and calling for government intervention to prevent xenophobic violence.

• The signatories express grave concern over the targeting of migrants in their homes and workplaces, specifically citing calls by community activists and political parties to forcefully remove migrants and conduct headcounts of foreign nationals in restaurants. They warn that these actions could lead to widespread xenophobic violence similar to the events of 2008, during which 62 people were killed, including 21 South Africans.
• The document argues that the narrative that migrants are 'stealing jobs' is a 'scapegoat' that ignores systemic issues such as corruption, state capture, and the failure of the state to provide economic opportunities. It also highlights inefficiencies within the Home Affairs Department regarding the processing of refugee, asylum, and migrant documents.
• The collective condemns the actions of private citizens and politicians who search private property and check ID documents under the guise of oversight, comparing these acts to the 'dompas' pass laws of the apartheid era. They call on the South African Police Services to act against those engaging in vigilante activities to prevent the normalization of such behavior.
• The statement calls for immediate intervention by the government, law enforcement, and Chapter 9 institutions, including the South African Human Rights Commission. Specific demands include the implementation of the National Action Plan to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and the initiation of a national dialogue and education campaigns to counter dehumanizing narratives.
• The document frames anti-migrant sentiment as a global phenomenon driven by populist right-wing racism and fascism, citing examples such as the US-Mexico border and the Mediterranean. It notes that climate change-induced environmental devastation and political instability will necessitate a new approach to migration based on human rights.

APA

Public Affairs Research Institute (2022). Collective call to stop attacks on migrants. https://pari.org.za/press-statement-collective-call-to-stop-attacks-on-migrants/

Chicago

Public Affairs Research Institute. Collective call to stop attacks on migrants. 2022. https://pari.org.za/press-statement-collective-call-to-stop-attacks-on-migrants/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Public Affairs Research Institute |title=Collective call to stop attacks on migrants |date=24 January 2022 |url=https://pari.org.za/press-statement-collective-call-to-stop-attacks-on-migrants/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{publicaffairsresearchinstitute2022collective, author = {{Public Affairs Research Institute}}, title = {{Collective call to stop attacks on migrants}}, publisher = {Public Affairs Research Institute}, year = {2022}, month = jan, url = {https://pari.org.za/press-statement-collective-call-to-stop-attacks-on-migrants/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }