Statement on Xenophobia in South Africa

The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) condemns violence, hate speech, and vigilante attacks against foreign nationals, refugees, and asylum seekers in South Africa. While acknowledging the anger of economically marginalised citizens, PARI asserts that these grievances are being weaponised by opportunistic forces to distract from the state's failure to provide essential services, jobs, and security. The organization calls for state leaders to unequivocally condemn anti-migrant rhetoric and for the implementation of a democracy that delivers a better life for all residents regardless of nationality.

• PARI argues that the anger of economically marginalised citizens is being exploited by opportunistic forces to shift focus away from the need for state and private sector leadership in structural economic transformation and effective service delivery.
• The document identifies a failure by the state to provide necessary security, employment, and services to the South African population, though it maintains this does not justify xenophobia or violence.
• PARI calls for an immediate end to vigilante attacks and demands that state leaders unequivocally condemn the killings, displacement, intimidation, and anti-migrant rhetoric targeting asylum seekers, refugees, and African migrants.

APA

Public Affairs Research Institute (2026). Statement on Xenophobia in South Africa. https://pari.org.za/statement-on-xenophobia-in-south-africa/

Chicago

Public Affairs Research Institute. Statement on Xenophobia in South Africa. 2026. https://pari.org.za/statement-on-xenophobia-in-south-africa/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Public Affairs Research Institute |title=Statement on Xenophobia in South Africa |date=29 June 2026 |url=https://pari.org.za/statement-on-xenophobia-in-south-africa/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{publicaffairsresearchinstitute2026statement, author = {{Public Affairs Research Institute}}, title = {{Statement on Xenophobia in South Africa}}, publisher = {Public Affairs Research Institute}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://pari.org.za/statement-on-xenophobia-in-south-africa/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }