Xenophobia in South Africa: Misconceptions or Illegal Immigration Gone Wrong?

Many Nigerians talk about xenophobia but may not fully understand it. Xenophobia means hatred of foreigners, yet I believe most South Africans welcome visitors. The real challenge in South Africa is illegal immigration. Some undocumented migrants end up homeless, turn to robbery or burglary to survive, and beg on the streets. Others set up unlicensed businesses—from makeshift salons to spaza shops selling unsafe food. There are also reports of kidnapping and exploitation involving foreign-run operations. Jails across South Africa are reportedly filling with undocumented migrants. As Nigerians, how should we respond to these issues? What solutions can we propose to tackle illegal immigration and avoid unfairly blaming ordinary South Africans?

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