PLO Lumumba Condemns Xenophobic Attacks on African Migrants in South Africa

Lawyer PLO Lumumba has written an open letter to South African officials condemning xenophobic attacks against African migrants. The three-page letter, dated May 6, warned that the incidents undermine Pan-African unity and stand in contrast to South Africa's position on the situation involving Palestinians in Gaza.

In the letter, Lumumba said recent events in Johannesburg and Pretoria had exposed a trajectory in which suspicion and identity were replacing the rule of law. He cited reports of protests, violent confrontations, looting of migrant-owned businesses and harassment of foreigners, including those with legal documentation.

These developments have created fear and uncertainty among African communities living in South Africa, according to the letter. At least 130 Nigerian nationals have formally sought repatriation from South Africa over safety concerns amid the tensions, the letter stated.

Lumumba warned that profiling individuals based on perceived foreign identity risked eroding constitutional protections and weakening confidence in public institutions. >"Such occurrences reveal a dangerous trajectory -- one in which identity becomes a trigger for violence, and suspicion replaces law," he wrote.

— PLO Lumumba (AllAfrica) Lumumba reminded officials of the solidarity extended by African nations during the anti-apartheid struggle. He argued that South Africa's liberation history created a responsibility to protect fellow Africans. "Xenophobia, in whatever form it manifests, represents a repudiation of that shared history," he stated.

Lumumba urged officials to guarantee the safety of all persons regardless of nationality, prosecute perpetrators of violence, and reinforce public messaging against discrimination. He argued that repeated incidents pointed to deeper societal and leadership challenges beyond routine law enforcement.

"Where impunity is perceived, it breeds repetition; where accountability is delayed, it weakens confidence; and where leadership is hesitant, it creates space for forces that threaten both order and justice," Lumumba stated. He described it as inconsistent for South Africa to advocate for Palestinians while African migrants face hostility inside its borders.

"It cannot be right that the Republic of South Africa stands up for Palestinians in Gaza and yet they are seen to be persecuting their own kith and kin from other African countries," he said. Copies of the letter were sent to Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters.