The issue of xenophobia in South Africa has once again become a major topic of discussion across Africa and beyond. Social media platforms are filled with emotional reactions, political commentary, painful testimonies, and unhelpfully sweeping conclusions. Some narratives portray South Africans as inherently xenophobic and hostile toward fellow Africans. Others argue that foreigners are overwhelming South Africa’s economy, taking jobs, and placing pressure on already struggling public services.
Legislation alone cannot solve this crisis.
As Christians, however, we are called to think more carefully than the world around us. We must resist simplistic conclusions and emotional overreactions. We should never condone scapegoating. Rather, we must think biblically, truthfully, compassionately, wisely and pastorally. This is a morally serious issue. It’s socially and economically complex. All of that makes it pastorally challenging. Xenophobia simply cannot be reduced to a single narrative.
As I’ll show below, the issues surrounding migration are complex. Addressing them demands careful and comprehensive thought. Solving xenophobia, in the end, doesn’t come down to legislation, but gospel love.
All of Us Bear the Image of God
The Christian starting point must always be the doctrine of the imago Dei. God created every human being in the image of God. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him” (Genesis 1:27). This truth gives every person dignity, worth, and value before God. South Africans are made in the image of God; so too is a Malawian migrant; the Zimbabwean worker is made in the image of God; just as the same is true of the Mozambican labourer.
This means that Christians cannot support violence, hatred, intimidation, or dehumanisation against foreigners. Mob attacks, looting, threats, and murder can never be justified in the name of protecting jobs or defending national interests.
What Does God Say About Foreigners?
Scripture repeatedly commands God’s people to treat migrants with justice and compassion. The Bible consistently teaches concern and care for foreigners.
Love of neighbours transcends ethnicity, nationality, and social boundaries.
In the Old Testament, Israel was repeatedly reminded of its own history, as strangers in Egypt. “Love the sojourner,” God commands his people, “for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:19). Similarly, “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him” (Exodus 22:21). Foreigners were not to be mistreated, exploited, or oppressed; they were to be treated with dignity and justice. In the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus teaches that love of neighbours transcends ethnicity, nationality, and social boundaries.
At the same time, biblical compassion was never lawless compassion. The Bible recognises the legitimacy of nations, governments, laws, and civil order. Foreigners living among Israel were expected to respect the laws and moral standards of the land.
Therefore the biblical position isn’t that nations should have no borders; nor that governments should have no immigration laws. Rather, the Bible teaches both: compassion toward foreigners; and respect for lawful authority.
The New Testament deepens this ethic further. The Church itself is multinational. “There is neither Jew nor Greek…for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Yet God also commands Christians to respect laws. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1). As Christians we must hold these two biblical truths together: compassion for foreigners; and respect for lawful order. The world often chooses one while rejecting the other.
Are All South Africans Xenophobic?
One of the most important cautions in this discussion is the danger of generalisations. South Africa is a country with over 60 million people. It is neither truthful nor fair to conclude that all South Africans are xenophobic because some individuals or groups have participated in anti-foreigner protests or violence.
Yes, some South Africans are xenophobic. Some of the attacks have been horrific and tragic, even fatal. Families and foreigners have suffered deeply. Lives have been destroyed. All such actions must be unequivocally condemned. However, many South Africans reject xenophobia. There have been South Africans who marched against attacks on foreigners; opened their homes to migrants; and continue to show kindness, friendship, and hospitality to fellow Africans. This reality rarely receives equal attention in public discourse.
Truth demands nuance.
Personal experiences also matter. For some, experiences in South Africa have been painful; but for others, South Africa has been a place of happy opportunity and friendship, growth as well as belonging. I personally spent 21 years in South Africa. In that time I experienced tremendous warmth and hospitality from South Africans. Some of my closest friends to this day are South African, including my best man. Much of my intellectual, spiritual, and personal formation took place in South Africa. Because of this, I will always have a deep appreciation and affection for the country.
Only, my experience doesn’t mean there aren’t xenophobic South Africans. But it does mean we should avoid broad and unfair conclusions. We cannot condemn an entire nation. It may be necessary to add that South Africans who are xenophobic are a minority, compared with those who’ve extended kindness and friendship to the millions of Africans living in South Africa. If this is to be challenged, perhaps we need to ask how many Malawians, Zimbabweans and Nigerians to mention a few have made South Africa their home.
Truth demands nuance.
Are Foreigners Taking All of the Jobs?
This is where the conversation becomes more difficult, not to mention emotionally charged.
South Africa faces serious economic challenges:
- High unemployment and poverty
- Slow economic growth
- Inequality as well as corruption
- Profound pressure on public services.
In such an environment, migration is a politically sensitive matter. So a very important question to ask is: are foreigners the primary cause of South Africa’s economic struggles? The answer is that they almost certainly aren’t. As a country, South Africa is plagued by its past, structural inequality, economic mismanagement, state corruption and glaring failures in governance. These are all far more significant contributors.
However, it would also be dishonest to deny that migration places pressure on certain sectors of society. Increased population can affect:
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Housing
- Transport
- Informal labour markets.
In some cases, migrants do accept lower-paying jobs that struggling South Africans may also have sought. That reality cannot simply be dismissed.
Migration places pressure on certain sectors of society.
Yet even here, the issue is more complicated than many assume. If someone leaves Malawi, Zimbabwe, or Mozambique and successfully finds employment in South Africa, one must also ask why those positions were available in the first place. Moreover, most migrants don’t leave their own countries because they hate their homes. Many leave because they are desperate for survival, opportunity, education, the ability to provide for their families and find refuge.
Christians must reject blame-shifting and resist the temptation to dehumanise vulnerable people. Yet, we should also admit that migration puts pressure on basic service delivery for South African citizens.
The Question of Illegal Immigration
One of the most difficult pastoral questions within the larger matter concerns undocumented migrants. As we’ve seen above, the Bible teaches that Christians should ordinarily obey the laws of the countries in which they live (Romans 13:1). This means Christians should seek to legitimise their stay, where possible. Fraud, corruption, dishonesty, and deliberate lawlessness cannot be defended biblically.
Many well meaning foreigners face unworkable and dysfunctional immigration systems.
However, real-life situations are incredibly complex. Many migrants lack formal education or specialised skills that immigration systems typically require. Some entered countries years ago under desperate circumstances. Others have since built families, married local citizens, and raised children. Over-simplistic answers cannot address these questions. Christians should acknowledge unlawful conduct. At the same time, family responsibilities are real and significant. A father should not casually abandon his wife and children.
Churches therefore have an important pastoral role to play. Rather than merely condemning people, churches should:
- Provide biblical counsel
- Encourage lawful regularisation where possible
- Offer practical support
- Walk compassionately with struggling families.
Governments also bear responsibility. When immigration systems become inaccessible, dysfunctional, or corrupt, they inevitably contribute to irregular migration. Many well meaning foreigners face unworkable and dysfunctional immigration systems.
The Only Lasting Solution
While political reform, economic development, and better immigration systems are important, Christians must ultimately recognise that the deepest problem behind xenophobia is not merely economic or political. It is spiritual. Xenophobia, hatred, tribalism, violence, scapegoating, greed, corruption, and selfishness all flow from the sinful human heart. As Jesus said, “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander” (Matthew 15:19).
Hatred, tribalism, violence and scapegoating all flow from the sinful human heart.
The human heart naturally divides people into categories of ‘us’ and ‘them’. Sin teaches us to fear outsiders, resent competitors, and protect ourselves at the expense of others. Whether it is tribalism, racism, nationalism, or xenophobia, the root problem is the same: fallen humanity alienated from God and one another.
This is why legislation alone cannot solve this crisis. Governments may restrain violence temporarily. But they cannot change the human heart. The heart of the xenophobia problem is the problem of the human heart. Only the gospel can radically address this. The gospel declares that all people stand equally guilty before God, the:
- South African
- Malawian
- Zimbabwean
- Rich
- Poor
- Citizen
- Foreigner.
And yet, through Christ, God offers reconciliation not only between man and God, but also between man and man. “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14).
