Politicians use anti-immigrant rhetoric to win votes

Elections 2026

Public Affairs Research Institute researcher Waseem Holland says anti-immigrant rhetoric is being used by political parties to score votes ahead of the local government elections, exploiting existing frustrations while diverting attention from deeper failures in service delivery, governance and nation-building.

“[Political parties] use these tools of division as an electioneering tool to separate, the people whose votes you want and the people who can’t vote,” Holland said.

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