BBC Documentaries

Global Questions: Is South Africa Afrophobic? (2020x32)

Air date: Mar 01, 2020

The recent upsurge in violence against foreigners, mostly from elsewhere in Africa, is raising fears that xenophobic attacks in South Africa are on the rise. With its highly developed economy South Africa remains the continent’s biggest magnet for migrants. The South African Government has acknowledged that prejudice is partly to blame for the latest eruption of violence directed against African migrants and targeting foreign businesses. Political leaders from across party divides have been accused of tapping into existing anti-African sentiment, helping to create a hostile environment and stoke anti-immigrant sentiment for political gain rather than addressing the issues of poverty and job creation. But where does this Afrophobic violence have its roots and what does it mean for its relationships with neighbouring countries across the continent? As President Ramaphosa tries to protect its foreign investments and deal with the political and economic fallout, Global Questions travels to Johannesburg to discuss, Is South Africa Afrophobic?