When the Liberated Become the Oppressor: South Africa's Xenophobia and the Betrayal of a Continent

A wave of violence targeting African nationals has erupted in South Africa during April and May 2026. Organized vigilante groups, including those named "March" and "Operation Dudula," have looted businesses, destroyed livelihoods, and driven people from their homes. The victims include citizens of Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, countries that significantly contributed to South Africa's own liberation.

This is not an isolated incident. South Africa has witnessed recurring episodes of anti-foreigner violence in 2008, 2015, 2019, 2021, and now 2026. Despite international condemnation and repeated promises of action, the violence continues to resurface.

The article invokes the biblical narrative of Egypt, where a new Pharaoh, forgetting the contributions of Joseph who saved the nation from famine, enslaved the Israelites. This act of forgetting gratitude and replacing it with persecution ultimately led to Egypt's devastation and the collapse of its empire.

The author warns that South Africa risks a similar fate if it forgets the sacrifices made by other African nations and perpetuates violence against its continental neighbors. The piece quotes Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana and a key figure in Pan-Africanism, stating, "The forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than the superimposed influences that keep us apart."

“

The forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than the superimposed influences that keep us apart.