Opinion | Misplacing the blame: Immigration in political strategy

Illegal immigration has become a political strategy for some South African parties, such as Action SA and Patriotic Alliance, while others like the Economic Freedom Fighters have been shunned. A 2026 GeoPoll survey found that 77% of South Africans witnessed incidents related to social tensions in the past year, highlighting the ubiquity of illegal immigration as a catalyst.

Xenowatch reported 1,362 incidents of xenophobic violence since 1994, with 133,362 people displaced and 705 fatalities. Anti-immigrant sentiments have been fueled by factors like poor governance, recession of democracy, and the re-emergence of democratic socialism. The governing party, the ANC, has acknowledged its shortcomings, while opposition parties are capitalizing on the failures of the incumbent.

The March and March movement, led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, supports parties with strict anti-illegal immigrant policies. South Africa's inequality, lack of skilled labor, and neocolonial vulnerabilities are contributing factors to the country's problems. Shunning immigrants may seem like a solution, but it could have dire consequences for the economy and safety.

Instead, South Africa should focus on regional governance and cooperation to address the root causes of the issues.