South Africa has pushed back against accusations of xenophobia, following a wave of anti-migrant protests that has unsettled communities across the country and drawn criticism from elsewhere on the African continent.

In recent weeks, demonstrations targeting foreign nationals have erupted in several major South African cities, at times turning violent.

The unrest has prompted concern from countries including Nigeria, Ghana and Mozambique, while United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres has also voiced alarm.

Speaking at a press briefing this week, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya insisted that South Africa should not be labelled xenophobic, arguing that the protests reflect broader tensions surrounding migration, crime and economic pressures rather than hostility towards foreigners as a whole.

“South Africa is not xenophobic. South Africans are not xenophobic,” Magwenya said. “What is happening is that we have several pockets of protest, which is permitted under our Constitution. We must also take into account the fact that the issue of immigration is a source of tension.”

South Africa remains the continent’s most industrialised economy and a major destination for migrants seeking work and stability. According to the national statistics institute, the country is home to more than 3 million immigrants.

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