Photo by Unsplash/Clodagh Da Paixao Johannesburg, South Africa. UN Committee: South African authorities must strengthen protection of migrants amid rise in racist crimes Human Rights
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has expressed concern about a surge in xenophobia and racist crimes against migrants in South Africa since early 2026, including murders, forced displacement and illegal house raids.
The Committee noted with deep concern that at least four migrants were killed. About 50 thousand migrants were evicted from their homes by organized vigilante groups. The committee’s experts received reports of kidnappings, robberies, destruction of migrants’ property and businesses, illegal evictions by landlords, and restrictions on access to health care and education.
The committee stressed that these crimes violate the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. racist language and the dissemination of negative stereotypes about migrants and refugees by civil movements such as the Insizwa Nobunsizwa Development Foundation and the March and March movement, especially on the Internet and social media.
The Committee expresses concern about the lack of effective measures to address the causes of racial discrimination and hate crimes against migrants, including persistent socio-economic inequalities inherited from the apartheid era. migrants.
The Committee welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s statement on 7 June 2026 condemning lynching, xenophobia, violence against migrants and warning against blaming migrants for South Africa’s socio-economic problems.
Experts call on the country’s authorities to step up their efforts to address root causes of racial discrimination, dismantle organized vigilantism, and work with the media, internet service providers and social networks to combat hate speech and stereotypes online.
The Committee also recommended that South Africa ensure that law enforcement responds effectively to acts of racist violence, does not use excessive force against migrants, and establish safe and accessible channels for victims to report about violations.
All crimes must be investigated, and evicted migrants must be provided with adequate temporary housing conditions and access to basic services, experts stressed.