Xenophobia is defined as the fear of that which is foreign or strange. It can be seen as discrimination, but we can also define xenophobia as the fear of foreigners. This fear has been around for centuries and it has been associated with nationalism, racism, and other forms of prejudice. Xenophobia is not just a feeling; it has real consequences for people’s lives.
A person may experience xenophobic feelings when they are in an unfamiliar place or when they are interacting with someone who speaks another language than them or if they are meeting someone who looks different.
What are the causes of xenophobia in South Africa?
We can see that there are many causes of xenophobia in South Africa. One of the main causes is the media portrayal of immigrants as a threat to South Africans. This has led to a negative perception of immigrants among the population. The other cause is the fear that immigrants will take away jobs from locals and make them unemployed. The last cause is that some people believe immigrants are taking away resources and opportunities from locals, which leads to an increase in poverty rates among South Africans.
