The current climate of anti-migrant sentiment sweeping across South Africa is increasingly being identified by experts as a crisis fueled by widespread misinformation and political opportunism. Aime-Noel Mbiyozo, a Senior Research Consultant on migration at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), has emerged as a leading voice in dismantling the prevailing narratives that hold foreign nationals accountable for the nation’s deep-seated economic and social woes. In her recent contributions to public discourse, she highlights that these frustrations are being intentionally misdirected away from systemic failures and toward vulnerable populations who lack the political recourse to defend themselves.
During a recent appearance on Cape Talk’s drive show with host Pippa Hudson, Mbiyozo provided a critical analysis of the recent surges in the displacement of foreigners. She contextualized these events as symptoms of a broader, systemic failure within the South African state, rather than genuine consequences of migration trends. Her expert assessment suggests that the narrative surrounding the migrant “threat” is largely manufactured, serving as an effective tool for those who benefit from diverting public anger away from administrative incompetence and economic mismanagement.
Mbiyozo specifically pointed toward the role of political rhetoric in exacerbating these tensions. By utilizing xenophobic tropes, politicians have found it dangerously effective to scapegoat non-nationals, knowing that these individuals operate on the margins of society with little power to contest such accusations. This strategic manipulation of public sentiment has created a volatile environment where basic human rights are regularly violated under the guise of protecting national interest, even when the underlying premises of these attacks are demonstrably false.
A significant portion of the South African electorate has, according to ISS research, bought into the pervasive belief that migrants are the primary drivers of the country’s high unemployment rates, rising crime, and the increasing burden on already strained public services. Mbiyozo contends that these beliefs, while deeply felt, are factually incorrect. She emphasizes that the perceived “tsunami” of migration is an exaggeration, noting that despite South Africa being the most robust economy in the Southern African region, the actual number of migrants remains well within the expected and manageable range for a country of its size and status.
The core of the issue, Mbiyozo argues, lies not with the individuals entering the country, but with the state’s own broken infrastructure. She points directly to severe deficiencies within the immigration system, including entrenched corruption, weak administrative oversight, and chronic mismanagement. These internal failures have created a chaotic environment where legitimate processes are bypassed or ignored. By effectively fixing these state-level problems, many of the grievances currently directed at foreign nationals would naturally dissipate as the system becomes more transparent, orderly, and effective at managing the realities of global movement.
Ultimately, Mbiyozo’s insights demand a shift in how South Africa approaches the complex intersection of migration and domestic policy. By moving away from the toxic narrative of “migrants as scapegoats,” the country could instead focus on the long-term structural reforms necessary to stimulate the economy and improve service delivery for all residents. Until the government and civil society address the misinformation fueling current tensions, the cycle of displacement and hostility is likely to persist, undermining the social cohesion and stability required for the nation to prosper in the long term.