Return to the Xenophobia Syndrome: Mandela's Country Radicalizes Against Its Brothers

South Africa, once a symbol of the struggle for Black rights, is now marked by a resurgence of xenophobia targeting African and Asian foreigners. Since 2008, violent riots have erupted, blaming immigrants for stealing jobs and worsening crime. In 2020, a Human Rights Watch report revealed murders and discrimination against foreigners, who have become scapegoats for economic insecurity. The government, under Thabo Mbeki, has been criticized for its inability to manage migration flows and meet the needs of its population.