South African xenophobic violence: when the state retreats, something else governs
Daily Maverick | 08.05.2026 15:27
One week ago, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights issued a statement on the violence targeting African nationals in this country. It listed the dates — 1998, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2022, 2025. It used the word vigilante. It described what is happening as a “longstanding pattern”. It noted that there has been a “grave violation” of the rights enshrined in the African Charter – a charter that South Africa helped shape and is meant to defend.
