Background and Facts Behind Anti-Immigrant Protests in Güney Afrika

Güney Afrika is witnessing anti-immigrant protests organized with the demand that undocumented immigrants in the country leave by Tuesday. Fearing the outbreak of violence, thousands of foreign African nationals have begun returning to their home countries or gathering in camps to avoid being attacked. The group organizing the operation, describing its name as 'March and March', claims the actions have a peaceful purpose. However, authorities and observers recall that similar past actions have turned into hate crimes and mass violence. During this period of high tension, what kind of measures the government and security forces will take is being closely monitored by the international public.

Among the protesters' core claims are allegations that illegal immigrants in the country are taking jobs away from Güney Afrikalılar. The activists also argue that immigrants are exploiting scarce public services and are responsible for the country's high crime rates. In June, Musa Hlongwa, the head of the anti-immigrant civic group United South Africa, stated that Güney Afrikalılar are tired of waiting in long queues at hospitals and struggling to find places in schools. In the official's statements, serious and sweeping allegations were also brought up, specifically claiming that Nijeryalılar sell drugs to the youth in the country. Such rhetoric fuels the anger of the economically struggling local population, laying the groundwork for them to take to the streets.

Recent public opinion polls reveal how widely these anti-immigrant sentiments resonate within Güney Afrikan society. Research conducted last year shows that people are displaying an increasingly hostile attitude toward immigrants. According to a survey by the İnsan Bilimleri Araştırma Konseyi, only one-sixth of adults stated they welcome all foreigners to their country, while the proportion of those who do not want any foreigners rose to 42 percent. The Afrobarometer survey revealed that seven out of every ten Güney Afrikalılar view the economic impact of immigrants negatively, and 85 percent support reducing or completely stopping the number of refugees. These data indicate that the existing intolerance in the country has ceased to be the view of a marginal minority and has become a mainstream societal reflex.

On the other hand, there is a vast amount of statistical data and academic evidence indicating that these claims do not align with the facts. According to the national statistics office, the number of immigrants in the country is around 3.1 million, a figure that constitutes only 4.1 percent of the total population and has shown a significant decline over the last decade. Researchers from Johannesburg Üniversitesi emphasize that, contrary to the public impression of a flood of people entering the country, the data shows the exact opposite. Additionally, former data from the Ministry of Justice and academics' interpretations refute the claim that immigrants are disproportionately prone to crime, showing that immigrants actually comply with the laws more than the local population in terms of employment and criminal behavior.

Looking at the economic dimension, the thesis that immigrants cause unemployment is also refuted; because a 2018 Dünya Bankası report reveals that for every employed immigrant, approximately two new job opportunities are created for the local population. The fact that immigrants spend the money they earn largely in Güney Afrika invigorates the local economy and allows for the emergence of new service sectors. Finally, the claim that undocumented immigrants exploit public services such as hospitals and schools is found to be baseless by researchers; because it is noted that undocumented individuals refrain from utilizing these institutions that require registration. Experts argue that the real cause of the collapse in the country's health and education systems is chronic infrastructure deficiency and corruption, asserting that the billions of rands lost to corruption, especially during the term of former President Jacob Zuma, are the true culprits.