Johannesburg — Nigerian epidemiologist, lecturer, author, and founder of Cesar Africa, Braimoh Bello, has shared his personal and professional insights into xenophobia in South Africa, drawing on his nearly 20 years living in the country. Bello, also an entrepreneur and public speaker, says that while xenophobia exists, it is not universal, and many South Africans are welcoming and supportive.
People often ask him why he continues to live in South Africa despite xenophobic sentiments. Bello explains that his lived reality has largely been positive. “Not all South Africans are xenophobic, although quite a significant fraction are,” he said. Over 20 years, he estimates he has been stopped by police more than 100 times, and in over 95 percent of those encounters, officers treated him politely, respectfully, and professionally.
However, Bello warns that his personal experience does not reflect the struggles many migrants face. “The fact that I am not affected does not mean it doesn’t affect other people, and that it doesn’t worry me,” he said. 
Understanding the roots of xenophobia
Bello argues that understanding xenophobia requires examining its root causes. He identifies eight interrelated factors that drive xenophobic attitudes in South Africa, supported by examples and statistics.
1. Ignorance
Ignorance is a major driver of xenophobia. Many South Africans perceive immigrants as easy scapegoats, while the deeper dysfunctions in governance and society remain unexamined. Bello says South Africa is not overpopulated. With a population of approximately 64 million people, South Africa is smaller than Brazil (214 million), Russia (146 million), India (1.4 billion), and China (1.4 billion). Even countries like France, Germany, and Egypt have larger populations, while the nation’s population density is lower than Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Rwanda. Poor governance, not population size, is the country’s primary challenge.
Foreigners are also a small fraction of the population. In 2022, only 2.4 million people were foreign-born, about 3.9 percent of the population, with a maximum of 6 percent when broader definitions are used. Of these, 80 percent come from SADC countries such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Malawi. Despite this, immigrants are often wrongly perceived as a major problem.
Bello cites corruption as another contributing factor. He points to the Tembisa Hospital scandal, where over R2 billion intended for health services was allegedly looted through fraudulent procurement schemes involving over 100 officials across multiple syndicates. Other cases, such as 60 questionable Transnet contracts amounting to nearly $4 billion, continue to cripple the country. “Even with these challenges, some still point fingers at immigrants,” Bello noted, citing former President Thabo Mbeki, who criticized Operation Dudula for scapegoating foreigners. “Foreigners are not the cause of SA’s economic crisis,” Mbeki said.
2. Unemployment
South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, at 33 percent overall, and as high as 60 percent among young people. In certain districts, surveys show unemployment reaching 75 percent. Bello explains that joblessness breeds frustration, which is often misdirected at immigrants who are perceived as competition. “Chasing foreigners typically requires time and a sense of aimlessness, something more common among the unemployed,” he said.
3. Politicking
Political manipulation also fuels xenophobia. Some leaders stoke fears that immigrants are taking jobs, stealing resources, or threatening cultural identity. This distracts from failures in governance, service delivery, or corruption. “Whenever xenophobic upheavals occur, one wonders whether they are organic or orchestrated by political actors for personal gains,” Bello said.
4. Poor sense of history
A limited understanding of history contributes to xenophobia. Bello recalls the launch of his book, Beyond Tomorrow, which included a foreword by former Minister of Education, Ms. Naledi Pandor. A senior director from the ministry attended the launch on Pandor’s behalf, noting that Bello is Nigerian. The director shared that many South Africans studied in Nigeria under scholarship programs in the 1980s, and some even lived in Ikoyi with President Mbeki for months.
Bello also visited the Hector Peterson Museum in 2019 with visitors from across Africa and observed that museums tend to celebrate China’s role in the anti-apartheid struggle more visibly than that of African countries. “Today, when afrophobia ferments, history is nowhere to counter it,” he said.
5. Jealousy and inequality
Migrants often appear more successful than locals, creating resentment. Bello notes that immigrants frequently own businesses, property, or otherwise seem to “get ahead” faster than local community members. This envy, combined with inequality, drives xenophobic attitudes. He points out, however, that in enlightened communities, immigrants are recognized for the economic contributions they make.
6. Bad behaviour by some immigrants
Bello acknowledges that a small number of immigrants engage in criminal activities such as drug trafficking or fraud. However, he stresses that these individuals are a minority. “In my 20 years in South Africa, I have not met a Nigerian who sells drugs. But I have met many who are either employed or in business,” he said. Bello believes that better policing and reform of Home Affairs could significantly reduce crime among immigrants.
7. Colonial legacy and afrophobia
Colonialism left lasting psychological scars, teaching Africans that their identities were inferior and that success required adopting foreign norms. The apartheid regime reinforced these divisions, portraying other Africans negatively to South Africans. These mindsets persist, shaping prejudice between African communities. “It is this self-hate that makes xenophobia mostly afrophobia in South Africa,” Bello said.
8. Poor leadership in Africa
Finally, Bello links xenophobia to weak governance across the continent. Citizens migrate from countries with limited opportunities, adding to pressures in host nations. He urges African leaders to develop societies where citizens can access decent jobs and live with dignity. “While telling South Africans not to be xenophobic, we must also tell leaders of other African countries to develop their countries,” he said. Bello suggests that if multiple sub-Saharan African countries were as developed as South Africa, migration pressures would be lower.
Bello concludes that xenophobia is a complex issue shaped by social, economic, political, and historical factors. Addressing it requires both introspection in South Africa and responsible governance across Africa.
