When South Africa lined up for the 2026 World Cup opener against Mexico, conventional wisdom required that the African continent would rise in support of the rainbow nation. But that was not the case; the rest of the continent chose to cheer Mexico.
It was not the first time this year that the rest of the continent had given South Africa the cold shoulder.
In May this year, African diplomats in South Africa boycotted the Africa Union Day celebrations in the country.
How ironic. On a day when the continent was celebrating 63 years since the establishment of a body that has, over the years, championed African unity and continues to advocate for a borderless continent by 2063, the whole continent decided not to turn up for the commemorative event.
The reason is known to all by now that South Africa’s xenophobic attacks are on the rise again.
A dose of history
South Africa has long presented itself as a leader on the African continent. Its economy is among the largest in Africa, its companies operate across the region and its struggle against apartheid earned it immense goodwill from countries that supported the liberation movement.
Apart from the frontline states of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Angola playing a lead role in the fight against apartheid, Ghana, Nigeria, among others contributed significantly in drawing global attention to the inhuman governance system that segregated the South African population, treating black people like slaves in their own land.
The collective fight against apartheid ended in 1994 with the shackles of apartheid broken.
By then, Ghana had contributed in cash and in kind through scholarships to South African students, while issuing passports to others, including the legendary Hugh Masekela.
But recurring xenophobic attacks against African migrants are steadily eroding that goodwill and risk isolating the country from the very continent that once stood by it.
The latest wave of attacks and anti-migrant campaigns has drawn condemnation from governments, human rights groups and regional institutions.
The World Health Organisation and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights recently expressed concern over violence and intimidation directed at nationals of other African countries living in South Africa.
Human Rights Watch has also warned that vigilante groups have carried out attacks against migrants, while authorities have often failed to respond adequately.
The consequences are already becoming visible. Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique and Malawi have repatriated thousands of their citizens as the threat of xenophobia escalates ahead of a so-called June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave.
South Africa's own Justice Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has acknowledged that xenophobic violence is damaging the country's image abroad and affecting relations with other
African countries. South African artists have reportedly had performances cancelled elsewhere on the continent, while businesses have faced growing hostility.
In Ghana, there are calls for the government not to renew Goldfield, a South African mining company’s lease at Tarkwa when it expires.
This should worry South African policymakers.
The country's economic and diplomatic influence depends heavily on its ties with Africa.
South African banks, telecommunications companies, retailers and mining firms have expanded across the continent.
South Africa also benefits from regional trade arrangements and has consistently promoted African integration through initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Vigilantism not the solution
While admitting that South Africans have a genuine concern about illegal migration, the problem also has a lot to do with the country's Home Affairs Department, which has, over the years, struggled to cope with the sheer volume of applications that come before it.
More worrying is that the entire country of South Africa has only 800 immigration officers.
But a country that seeks continental leadership cannot simultaneously tolerate attacks on fellow Africans within its borders.
The contradiction is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Supporters of anti-migrant campaigns often argue that foreigners are responsible for rising crime, unemployment and pressure on public services.
These concerns should not be dismissed outright. Every sovereign nation has the right and responsibility to regulate migration, secure its borders and enforce immigration laws. Illegal migration is a legitimate policy issue that requires effective solutions.
However, violence, vigilantism and collective punishment are not solutions.
They undermine the rule of law and frequently target people who have legal status or long-standing ties to South Africa.
Reports from recent attacks indicate that many victims were legal residents, business owners, or individuals who had spent most of their lives in the country and have been forced to close their businesses, while some political leaders in KwaZulu-Natal forcefully take over foreign-owned businesses and hand them over to South Africans under the pretext that those businesses were illegal.
Structural problems
President Cyril Ramaphosa has correctly warned against blaming migrants for South Africa's economic problems.
He has acknowledged that while illegal immigration must be addressed, foreigners should not be the scapegoat for challenges that have deeper domestic roots.
But his words must be backed by actions.
The rhetoric has become too much.
Indeed, South Africa's social and economic difficulties cannot be explained by migration alone.
The country remains one of the most unequal societies in the world.
According to the International Monetary Fund, South Africa's Gini coefficient is about 0.65, placing it among the world's most unequal countries.
The World Bank notes that unemployment remained above 30 per cent in 2025, with more than eight million people unemployed.
Youth unemployment is even more severe, reaching about 46 per cent.
Despite being Africa's second-largest economy, South Africa continues to struggle with weak growth, insufficient job creation and widespread poverty.
Nearly 60 per cent of the population lives below the upper-middle-income poverty line.
These are structural problems rooted in decades of inequality, inadequate economic growth, poor service delivery and governance failures.
Attacking migrants will not create jobs, improve schools, reduce crime or fix infrastructure.
If anything, xenophobia distracts from the difficult reforms needed to address these challenges.
It also risks undermining South Africa's standing in Africa at a time when continental cooperation is becoming increasingly important.
The reaction from across the continent suggests patience is wearing thin.
Ghana has raised concerns through diplomatic channels, while African institutions have openly criticised the violence.
Public sentiment across Africa has also shifted, with many questioning whether South Africa still embraces the Pan-African values it once championed.
South Africa faces a choice. It can strengthen immigration enforcement through lawful and humane means, while addressing legitimate public concerns.
Or it can allow xenophobia to become normalised, further damaging its reputation and straining relations with African neighbours.
For a country that dragged Israel to the International Court of Justice, much is expected in dealing with illegal migration.
It appears the country’s nemesis has the rainbow nation exactly where they want it.
No country can prosper in isolation.
For South Africa, turning against fellow Africans risks weakening the partnerships, goodwill and solidarity that helped build its post-apartheid success.
If the current trend continues, the greatest cost may not be borne only by migrants but by South Africa itself.
The writer is the founder and chancellor of the Wisconsin International University College and President of the Private University Founders Association of Ghana
