Executive Director Christo van der Rheede said the situation has become increasingly serious, citing reports of harassment, violent attacks and killings involving foreign nationals. “This kind of lawlessness is completely contrary to our Constitution and constitutional democracy,” Van der Rheede said.
He stressed that all individuals, regardless of nationality or legal status, are entitled to dignity and basic human rights under SA’s Constitution.
The Foundation acknowledged that public frustration over unemployment, crime and governance challenges is real, but warned that blaming migrants for these issues misdirects attention from deeper structural problems. “There’s no disagreement in terms of legitimate concerns, but why do we keep targeting the most vulnerable?” Van der Rheede said.
He argued that SA’s socio-economic challenges are rooted in governance failures, including corruption, poor service delivery and ineffective border management, rather than immigration alone.
The Foundation further cautioned that allowing vigilante behaviour to take hold could have far-reaching consequences. Van der Rheede warned that once violence becomes normalised against one group, it could spread to others, posing a broader threat to social cohesion. “Once you allow vigilantism, the next step is militias,” he said.
He added that such developments could erode democratic institutions and create instability, drawing parallels with past periods of violence in SA’s history.
While acknowledging the deployment of police and security forces to manage tensions, Van der Rheede questioned why more proactive measures had not been taken earlier to prevent escalation.
He also pointed to the need for sustained investment in local communities to address poverty, infrastructure challenges and unemployment, arguing that these are key drivers of the current tensions.
The Foundation said civil society has a critical role to play in de-escalating the situation by promoting dialogue, holding government accountable and reinforcing constitutional values.
Van der Rheede urged South Africans to recognise their role in shaping governance through democratic processes, including voting and civic participation.
He emphasised that the country’s constitutional framework, built on human dignity, equality and non-racialism, must remain at the centre of efforts to address current challenges.
–ChannelAfrica–
