Article by Kotie Geldenhuys
Photos/images courtesy of Unsplash and SAPS
Many South Africans believe that undocumented migrants are a major driving force behind the country’s post-1994 crime wave. This view has sparked heated debate, fuelled xenophobic sentiment and complicated the nation’s efforts to tackle crime and immigration fairly. Many of these undocumented migrants embarked on a dangerous journey to cross borders, running away from perilous political and economic conditions with the hope of improving their situation in another country. The successful crossing of the final border turns these people into violators of immigration laws in the perceived country of survival. Despite their mission to continuously evade the police because of their illegal status, they also tend to be victims of xenophobia, crime and labour exploitation.
Widespread misinformation has significantly shaped public opinion on immigration in South Africa, contributing to a distorted perception that foreign nationals overwhelm the country. According to the 2021 South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS), nearly half of respondents, namely 48%, believed that between 17 and 40 million migrants (illegal and legal) reside in the country. This estimate is entirely inaccurate, as confirmed by research (Kaziboni, Lancaster, Machabaphala and Mulaudzi, 2022).
Political rhetoric has played a significant role in spreading these misconceptions. ActionSA, a political party known for its tough stance on immigration, previously claimed that there were 15 million undocumented migrants in South Africa, but these numbers have been thoroughly debunked by fact-checkers (Hoffman, 2025).
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[This is only an extract of an article published in Servamus: August 2025. This article is available for purchase.]